Describing Earths Atmosphere
The _____ is a thin layer of gases surrounding Earth.
What is the atmosphere? pg. 409
The _____ radiation heats Earth.
What is the sun? pg. 420
The movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
What is wind? pg. 427
The contamination of the air by harmful substances.
What is air pollution? pg. 434
The transfer of thermal energy by the movement of particles within matter.
What is convection? pg. 421
_________ is water in a gaseous form.
What is water vapor? pg. 410
The majority of sunlight.
What is visible light? pg. 418
Trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies are all part of it.
What are global wind belts? pg. 428-429
A mixture of dust, acids, and other chemicals that can be hazardous to human health.
What is particulate matter? pg. 436
Stunning displays of colorful lights.
What are auroras? pg. 413
The two main gases in the atmosphere.
What are oxygen and nitrogen? pg. 411
The only substance that can exist as a solid, a liquid, and a gas.
What is water? pg. 421
Near the top of the troposphere is a narrow band of high winds.
What are jet streams? pg. 429
Can influence the effects of air pollution.
What is wind? pg. 436
Sun's energy that does not reach Earth's surface.
What is absorption and reflection? pg. 419
The atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface.
What is the troposphere? pg. 412
Occurs in the troposphere when the temperature increases with altitude.
What is temperature inversion? pg. 423
Can form in the sea or on the land.
What are sea and land breezes? pg. 430
The power to set air quality standards.
What is the clean air act? pg. 437
Occurs whenever the air pressure is different from one location to another.
What are local winds? pg. 430
Pulls the atmosphere toward the Earth.
What is gravity? Pg. 414
Ground-level air is much warmer than higher altitude air.
What is unstable air? pg. 423
Earth's rotation causes moving air and water to appear to move to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
What is the Coriolis effect? pg. 428
50 times more polluted.
What is indoor air pollution? pg. 438
A gas that can damage plants.
What is ground-level ozone? pg. 435