Earth's Atmosphere
What gas makes up the largest percentage of Earth's atmosphere?
Nitrogen
The two major forces that drive the water cycle.
The Sun's energy and gravity
The typical characteristics of an air mass that forms over the warm Gulf of Mexico.
Warm and humid
The instrument used to determine wind direction.
Weather Vane or Wind Vane
One way people can reduce vehicle emissions and help improve air quality.
(Answers will vary, i.e., use public transportation)
The general change in air pressure as altitude increases.
Air pressure decreases
The process in which water vapor cools and changes into liquid water droplets.
Condensation
The type of front that forms when cold air moves underneath warm air and forces the warm air upward.
The circular movement of air caused by warm air rising, cooling, and eventually sinking.
Convection
The purpose of collecting air-quality data near places such as highways
To help protect public health and make informed decisions
The atmospheric layer where most of Earth's weather occurs.
Troposphere
The process in which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves.
Transpiration
The type of front that forms when two air masses meet but neither is strong enough to move the other.
Stationary front
The fast-moving band of air high in the atmosphere that helps move weather systems across the United States.
The jet stream
A high UV Index indicates high levels of this type of radiation from the Sun.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
The atmospheric layer that contains the ozone layer and helps protect Earth from harmful UV radiation.
Stratosphere
The different ways water can move after precipitation, including soaking into the ground, flowing into rivers, or returning to the atmosphere.
Different pathways in the water cycle
The weather conditions commonly associated with sinking air and high pressure.
Clear and dry conditions
The global wind belt that generally moves weather systems across the continental United States from west to east.
The prevailing westerlies
The relationship between increased fossil fuel use, greenhouse gases, and global temperatures.
Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that contribute to rising temperatures
The general temperature change as you travel upward through the troposphere.
Temperature decreases
The process in which liquid water gains energy and changes into water vapor.
Evaporation
The characteristics an air mass gains from the region where it forms, which can help meteorologists predict the weather it may bring.
Temperature and moisture
The effect that causes winds in the Northern Hemisphere to curve to the right.
Coriolis Effect
Two strategies a city could use to reduce the impacts of poor air quality.
Plant more trees and expand public transportation