| Term | Definition |
|---|
| albedo | percent of solar radiation reflected by a surface |
| atmospheric pressure | the force of air pressing on the Earth's surface |
| barometer | instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure |
| climate | average weather over a long period of time |
| conduction | heat energy transfer by direct contact |
| convection | heat energy transfer by currents set up by temperature differences |
| radiation | heat energy transfer by waves |
| greenhouse effect | process b y which the Earth's atmosphere (carbon dioxide) traps infrared radiation |
| ionosphere | region of ionized gas in the thermosphere (reflects radio waves) |
| mesosphere | coldest layer of the atmosphere |
| ozone | triatomic form of oxygen that blocks ultraviolet radiation from the Sun |
| stratosphere | the layer of atmosphere that contains most of the atmosphere's ozone |
| thermosphere | the highest layer of the atmosphere |
| troposphere | the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface where most weather occurs |
| weather | the state of the atmosphere in a particular place at a particular time |
Combine with other sets
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