Atmospheric Basics
Properties of Atm.
Clouds and Precipitation
Layers of Atmosphere
Vocab
100
a mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth
Atmosphere
100
an increase in temperature with height in an atmospheric layer
temperature inversion
100
small particle in the atmosphere around which water droplets form
condensation nucleus
100
Layer that humans live in and breathe
Troposphere
100
all forms of water that fall from clouds
Precipitation
200
The atmosphere consists mainly of:
Nitrogen 78% and oxygen 21%
200
the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given location on Earth's surface
humidity
200
occurs when air masses move into the same area from different directions
convergence
200
Layer that contains the ionosphere
Thermosphere
200
the extra thermal energy contained in water vapor compared to liquid water
Latent Heat
300
gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen molecules
ozone
300
occurs when the amount of water vapor in a volume of air has reached the maximum amount
saturation
300
puffy, lumpy-looking clouds
cummulus
300
High Concentration of Ozone
Stratosphere
300
the transfer of thermal energy between objects when their atoms or molecules collide
Conduction
400
tiny, solid particles that are in the atmosphere such as dust, microscopic organisms, and pollen
particulates
400
the amount of water vapor in a volume of air relative to the amount of water vapor needed for that volume of air to reach saturation
relative humidity
400
layered, sheet-like clouds
stratus
400
All weather occurs in this layer
Troposphere
400
occurs when cloud droplets collide and join together to form a larger droplet
Coalescence
500
the five layers of the atmosphere
troposhpere, stratoshpere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
500
the temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure to reach saturation
dew point
500
wispy, indistinct clouds
cirrus
500
Magnetic storms called auroras occur in this layer
Thermosphere
500
the transfer of thermal energy by the end of the movement of heated material from one place to another
Convection