1-5 vocab
what is a acid rain
Rain containing acids that form in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions (especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) combine with water.
what is a atmosphere
he gaseous portion of a planet; the planet's envelope of air; one of the traditional subdivisions of Earth's physical environment
what is a Relative Humidity RH
the ratio of the air's water-vapor content to its water-vapor capacity
what is a Isotherm
a line connecting points of equal temperature
what is a greenhouse effect
The phenomenon where gases in Earth's atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, trap heat in the lower atmosphere, warming the Earth.
what is a aerosol
a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas.
what is a Chlorofluorocarbons CFCs
chemicals that have the potential to destroy the ozone; ex.) hair-spray, refrigeration, etc.
what is a
Saturated
the state of air that contains the maximum quantity of water vapor that it can hold at any given temperature and pressure
what is a Ozone (O3)
A molecule of oxygen containing three oxygen atoms. Blocks some UV radiation from the sun.
what is a urban heat island effect
the phenomenon in which urban areas are warmer than the surrounding countryside due to pavement, dark surfaces, closed-in spaces, and high energy use
what is a air mass
a large body of air that is characterized by similar temperatures and amounts of moisture at any given altitude
what is a Hydrofluorocarbons HFCs
Chemicals containing hydrogen, fluorine, and carbons, produced as potential substitutes for CFCs
what is a Dew Point
the temperature to which air has to be cooled in order to reach saturation
what is a Precipitation
any form of water that falls from clouds
what is a El Nino-Southern Oscillation ENSO
The periodic changes in wind patterns and ocean currents over the southern Pacific Ocean, causing changes in weather conditions in North America.
what is a air pressure
the force exerted by the weight of a column of air above a given point
what is a Evaporation
the process of converting a liquid to a gas
what is a Front
the boundary between two different air masses
what is a water vapor
water in the form of a gas
what is a Coriolis Effect
The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and ocean currents. Causes tropical cyclones to spin counterclockwise in the N. hemisphere and clockwise in S. hemi.
what is a albedo
the fraction of total radiation that is reflected back by a surface
what is a Condensation
The change of state from a gas to a liquid
what is a Tropical Cyclone
a low-pressure center characterized by a counterclockwise flow of air in the Northern Hemisphere, called a hurricane in North America
what is a Temperature
a measure of the average kinetic energy of individual atoms or molecules in a substance
what is a Methane CH4
a colorless, odorless greenhouse gas that results from both natural and human activities, such as the decay of plants, animals, waste, combustion, etc.