The Atmosphere
Gas needed for respiration
What is oxygen
Ultimate source of almost all heat on Earth
What is the sun
The main factor producing seasonality on Earth
What is tilt of the Earth's axis
Phase change from liquid to solid
What is freezing
This makes the wind blow
What is difference in atmospheric pressure
The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere
What is nitrogen
Measure of average kinetic energy within a substance
What is temperature
The latitude that receives the most annual insolation
What is the equator
Amount of water vapor in the air
What is humidity
The prevailing winds in the tropics
What are the trade winds
Layer of the atmosphere in which we live
What is the troposphere
Heat transferred by moving currents
What is convection
Shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere
What is the December Solstice
Temperature at which condensation will occur
What is dew point
This force deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere
What is Coriolis force
Gas that is a pollutant at the surface, but absorbs dangerous UV radiation higher up
What is ozone (O3)
Earth emits energy mainly in this portion of the EM spectrum
What is infrared
When the Earth is farthest from the sun
What is aphelion
Maximum pressure of water vapor for a given temperature
What is saturation vapor pressure
Friction is negligible above this part of the atmosphere
What is the planetary boundary layer
Most variable gas in Earth's atmosphere
What is water vapor
Gases that are particularly good at absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation
What are greenhouse gases
Colder air next to the ground with slightly warmer air just above it by late night or early morning
What is a nocturnal inversion (or radiation inversion)
Relative humidity greater than 100%
What is supersaturation
Upper-atmosphere winds that blow parallel to straight isobars
What are geostrophic winds