Characteristics of the Atmosphere
Atmospheric Heating
Global and local winds
Air pollution
Miscellaneous
100
A mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth.
Atmosphere
100
Transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves.
Radiation
100
The movement of air caused by differences in air pressure.
Wind
100
The contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural resources.
Air pollution
100
Uppermost atmospheric layer where temperatures can be 1000° or higher.
Thermosphere
200
The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface
Air pressure
200
Transfer of energy as heat through a material
Thermal conduction
200
The apparent curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to the Earth's rotation
The Coriolis Effect
200
Rain, sleet or snow that contains a high concentration of acids.
Acid precipitation
200
A narrow belt of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere
Jet streams
300
The lowest layer of the atmosphere that we live in.
Troposphere
300
The transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas.
Convection
300
Prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60° and 90° latitude in both hemispheres.
Polar easterlies
300
Pollutants that are put directly into the air by human or natural activity. Natural pollutants are dust, sea salt, volcanic gases and ash, smoke from forest fires. Human caused pollutants are carbon monoxide, dust, smoke, and chemicals from paint or other substances.
What is a primary pollutant
300
The layer of the earth's atmosphere that contains a high concentration of ions and is able to reflect radio waves. It is part of the thermosphere.
Ionosphere
400
The atmospheric layer above the troposphere. The gases are layered and don't mix much.
Stratosphere
400
The warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and re-radiate thermal energy.
Greenhouse effect
400
Prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30° and 60° latitude in both hemispheres.
Westerlies
400
Pollutants that form when primary pollutants react with other primary pollutants or with naturally occurring substances such as water vapor. Examples are ozone and smog.
What is a secondary pollutant
400
When air travels in a circular pattern from the poles to the equator.
Convection cells
500
The middle and the coldest layer of the atmosphere.
Mesosphere
500
A gradual increase in average global temperature.
Global warming
500
Prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30° north latitude to the equator and that blow southeast from 30° south latitude to the equator.
Trade winds
500
A rapid change in a body of water's acidity.
Acid shock
500
Bands of high pressure and low pressure found at about every 30° of latitude and separates convection cells.
Pressure belts
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