Atmosphere
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20 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Earth Science | the study of Earth and the processes and forces that change it |
| atmosphere | the layer of gases that surrounds the planet |
| water vapor | a form of water in gas state |
| ozone | a form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of the usual two |
| troposphere | the layer of the atmosphere that is closest to the Earth; where we live and weather happens |
| stratosphere | the second layer of the atmosphere; contains the ozone layer which protects us from UV rays |
| mesosphere | the third layer of the atmosphere; protects Earth's surface from most meteoroids |
| thermosphere | the final layer; is divided into the ionosphere and the exosphere |
| ionosphere | bounces radio waves back to Earth; where the Northern Lights (glowing ion particles) occur |
| exosphere | outermost layer of the atmosphere; the layer where spacecraft and satellites travel |
| pressure | the force pushing on an area or surface |
| air pressure | the force that is a result of the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area |
| density | the amount of mass in a given volume |
| altitude | the distance above sea level |
| barometer | an instrument used to measure air pressure |
| aneroid barometer | a small box that expands and contracts with changing air pressure |
| mercury barometer | a tube filled with mercury that goes up and down with changes in air pressure |
| pollutants | harmful substances in the air |
| photochemical smog | forms when sunlight interacts with airborne pollutants such as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides |
| acid rain | rain that contains more acid than normal |
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