| Term | Definition |
|---|
| atmosphere | a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon |
| air pressure | the measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface |
| troposphere | The layer of the atmosphere nearest to Earth's surface. |
| 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 atmospheric layer between the mesosphere and the exosphere |
| radiation | the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves |
| thermal conduction | the transfer of energy as heat through a material |
| convection | the transfer of heat through a fluid (liquid or gas) caused by molecular motion |
| greenhouse effect | warming of the Earth due to the insulating effect of gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor |
| global warming | an increase in the average global surface temperature of the Earth |
| wind | the horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure |
| Coriolis effect | the way earth's rotation makes winds curve |
| polar easterlies | Prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60degrees-90degrees latitude in both hemisphere. |
| westerlies | prevaling winds that blow from west to east between 30 degrees & 60degrees latitude in the hemisphere. |
| trade winds | Prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30 degrees north latitude to the equator and that blow southeast from 30 degrees south latitude to the equator |
| doldrums | windless zones near the equator |
| horse latitudes | are regions of high pressue and gentle winds at about 30 degrees north and south latitude |
| jet stream | narrow belt of strong winds that blows near the top of the troposphere |
| air pollution | the contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural sources. |
| primary pollutant | a pollutant that is put directly into the air by human activity |
| secondary pollutant | pollutant formed by the chemical reactions of other primary or secondary pollutants |
| smog | haze caused by the interaction of ultraviolet solar radiation with chemical fumes from automobile exhausts and other pollution sources |
| acid precipitation | precipitation that contains acids due to ar pollution |
| ozone | absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun in the stratosphere |
Combine with other sets
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