Gases in the atmosphere
What are the three most abundant gases in the atmosphere?
nitrogen, oxygen, argon
List the layers of the atmosphere from closest to farthest from Earth's surface
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
stratosphere
a layer in the atmosphere in which air temperature increases with height, this can causes the trapping of polluted air
temperature inversion
tiny particles in the atmosphere that water vapor condenses onto to form clouds, fog, and haze
condensation nuclei
Carbon dioxide
Which layer exhibits weather patterns?
troposphere
Which layer of the atmosphere gradually fades into space?
exosphere
what measures water vapor, but relative to the temperature of the air
relative humidity
the process of air being forced to rise over a geographical feature, like a mountain, causing it to cool and condense into clouds or precipitation.
orographic lifting
a gas that absorbs and re-radiates heat from the Earth's surface
greenhouse gas
In which layer do auroras form?
Which ions create auroras that appear green or red?
oxygen
air that contains the maximum amount of water vapor it can hold at a given temperature and pressure.
saturated
the altitude at which a parcel of air becomes saturated with water vapor, reaching 100% relative humidity.
lifted condensation level
What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
nitrogen
Which layer of the atmosphere is the hottest?
thermosphere
nitrogen
the temperature at which air is saturated with water vapor and can no longer hold water as a gas
dew point
clouds in which water droplets collide and stick together to form larger droplets, eventually falling as rain
coalescence
Approximately what percent of oxygen is in the atmosphere?
about 21%
Which layer of the atmosphere is the coldest?
mesosphere
what causes an aurora to form
solar activity that triggers magnetic storms
What are the three properties of the atmosphere?
temperature, pressure, and density
What is moving air called? What causes the movement of air?
wind/air mass, differences in pressure