Vocab Ch. 15 Flashcards
Air pressure
The measure of the force wi which air molecules push on a surface.
Troposphere
The lowest layer of the atmosphere which temperature decreases at a constant rate as altitude increases.
Stratosphere
The layer of the atmosphere that is above the troposphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases.
Mesosphere
The layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere and in which temperature decreases as altitude increases.
Thermosphere
The uppermost layer of the atmosphere, in which the temperature increases as altitude increases.
Radiation
The transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves.
Thermal conduction
The transfer of energy as heat through a material.
Convection
The transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas.
Greenhouse effect
The warming of the surface and Lowe atmosphere of earth that accuses when water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and reradiate thermal energy.
Global warming
A gradual increase in average global temperature.
Wind
The movement of air causes by differences in air pressure.
Coriolis effect
The apparent curving of the pay of moving object from an otherwise straight path due to the earths rotation.
Polar easterlies
Prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 and 90 latitude in both hemispheres.
Westerlies
Prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 and 60 latitude in both hemispheres.
Trade winds
Prevailing winds that blow northwest from 30 north latitude to the equator and that blow southeast from 30 south latitude to the equator.
