The Atmosphere (Ch. I1)

Question 1

atmosphere
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— the movement of air caused by differences in air pressure
Coriolis effect— the apparent curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to the Earth’s rotation
polar easterlies— prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 degrees and 90 degrees latitude in both hemispheres
westerlies— prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres
Tradewinds— prevailing winds that blow Northeast from 30 degrees north latitude to the equator and that below Southeast from 30 degrees south latitude to the equator
jetstream—narrow belts of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere
Air pollution— the contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural resources.
acid precipitation— rain sleet or snow that contains a high concentration of acids

Answer 1

a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon

Question 2

air pressure

Answer 2

the measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface

Question 3

troposphere

Answer 3

the lowest layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature decreases at a constant rate as altitude increases

Question 4

stratosphere

Answer 4

layer of the atmosphere that is above the troposphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases

Question 5

mesosphere

Answer 5

the layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere and in which temperature decreases as altitude increases

Question 6

thermosphere

Answer 6

the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, and which temperature increases as altitude increases

Question 7

thermal conduction

Answer 7

the transfer of energy as heat through a material

Question 8

convection

Answer 8

the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas

Question 9

greenhouse effect

Answer 9

the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and re radiate thermal energy

Question 10

Global warming

Answer 10

a gradual increase in average global temperature