Space & Earth Science - Chp. 9

Front 1

envelope of gases surrounding our planet

Back 1

atmosphere

Front 2

- 21% of air
- supports respiration, burning, & oxidation
- discovered by Scheele & Priestly

Back 2

oxygen

Front 3

- 78% of air
- dilutes oxygen in the air
- discovered by Rutherford

Back 3

nitrogen

Front 4

- inner atmosphere (lower 80 km)
- uniform mixture of gases

Back 4

homosphere

Front 5

- outer atmosphere
- layers of different gases

Back 5

heterosphere

Front 6

- "weather layer"
- continual mixing of air
- lapse rate
- contrails

Back 6

troposphere

Front 7

- rate at which temperature drops as altitude increases
- average = -6.4 degrees C. per kilometer

Back 7

lapse rate

Front 8

upper boundry of troposphere

Back 8

tropopause

Front 9

- "stratified layer"
- cold bottom layer
- warmer upper layer (ozone warms it)
- free of clouds
- free of dust
- ozone layer
- jet streams
- weather balloons fly here

Back 9

stratosphere

Front 10

upper boundry of stratosphere

Back 10

stratopause

Front 11

- high-speed meandering wind current
- in stratosphere
- usually flow from west to east
- altitudes of 15-25 km
- 400 km/hour
- planes use to save fuel

Back 11

jet stream

Front 12

vapor trail left by airplanes at high altitudes

Back 12

contrail

Front 13

To provide a nucleus for condensation that forms clouds

Back 13

nucleation

Front 14

- "middle layer"
- homogeneous mixture of gases
- meteors usually burn up here
- strong winds that vary in direction
- temperature drops as altitude increases to a low of -90 degrees C. at top

Back 14

mesosphere

Front 15

- upper boundry of mesophere
- coldest temps in atmosphere
- Noctilucent or "night-shining clouds" = strange

Back 15

mesopause

Front 16

- "warm layer"
- temp affected by sun
- thin air (fewer particles)
- auroras occur here

Back 16

thermosphere

Front 17

- upper boundary of thermosphere

Back 17

thermopause

Front 18

- "outer layer"
- between atmosphere & outer space
- molecules can escape into space

Back 18

exosphere

Front 19

- in stratosphere = good ozone
- made from ozone-oxygen cycle
- ozone molecules absorb UV light & convert it to thermal energy

Back 19

ozone layer

Front 20

an atom or molecule having a positive or negative charge

Back 20

ion

Front 21

- part of thermosphere
- make long distance communication possible
- helpful to short-wave radio operators

Back 21

ionosphere

Front 22

- a large region surrounding earth's magnetic field
- prevents solar wind from hitting earth
- Van Allen Belts (inner & outer)
- magnetic storms from solar winds produce auroras

Back 22

magnetosphere

Front 23

- beautifully colored lights near the North Pole
- caused by magnetic storms

Back 23

aurora borealis

Front 24

- beautifully colored lights near the South Pole
- caused by magnetic storms

Back 24

aurora australis

Front 25

The warming of the lower atmosphere by infrared radiation that is radiated by the earth's surface after it absorbs visible radiation from the sun.

Back 25

greenhouse effect

Front 26

Any of the gases present in the atmosphere that enhance the absorption of infrared radiation by the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor are the predominant naturally occurring greenouse gases.

Back 26

greenhouse gas

Front 27

The DIRECT transfer of thermal energy through a substance or from one object in physical contact (TOUCH) with another.

Back 27

conduction

Front 28

The INDIRECT transfer of thermal energy from one place to another by the MOVEMENTS of currents of cooler, more dense matter into regions of warmer, less dense matter. (warm air rises)

Back 28

convection

Front 29

The study of the atmosphere.

Back 29

meteorology

Front 30

The condition of the atmosphere at any given time.

Back 30

weather

Front 31

The weight of gases. It decreases as altitude increases because of fewer molecules (less dense).

Back 31

atmospheric pressure

Front 32

An optical phenomenon that the atmosphere produces because of the differing densities of hot and cool air and the way light travels through them.

Back 32

mirage

Front 33

The TOTAL amount of water vapor that a certain volume of air holds.

Back 33

absolute humidity

Front 34

The RATIO of the amount of water the air DOES hold compared to the amount of water it CAN hold. It is a %.

Back 34

relative humidity

Front 35

A strong wind can lower the apparent temperature so it feels colder than it really is.

Back 35

wind-chill factor

Front 36

any form of water that falls to the earth's surface from the sky

Back 36

precipitation

Front 37

Functions of Atmosphere?

Back 37

- provides oxygen
- protects from meteors & cosmic rays
- maintains temperature
- provides pressure for proper body function

Front 38

2 men that discovered oxygen

Back 38

Priestly & Scheele

Front 39

Discovered nitrogen

Back 39

Rutherford

Front 40

homo-

Back 40

like or similar

Front 41

hetero-

Back 41

separate or different

Front 42

2 layers of ATMOSPHERE based on composition

Back 42

- homosphere
- heterosphere

Front 43

5 layers of ATMOSPHERE based on temperature
- (from earth's surface outward)

Back 43

- troposphere
- stratosphere
- mesosphere
- thermosphere
- exosphere

Front 44

Does the temperature increase or decrease in these layers of the atmosphere?

Back 44

Troposphere - decrease
Stratosphere - increase
Mesosphere - decrease
Thermosphere - increase
Exosphere - who knows?

Front 45

The homosphere includes what 3 temperature layers?

Back 45

troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere

Front 46

3 special layers of the atmosphere

Back 46

- ozone layer (ozonosphere)
- ionosphere
- magnetosphere

Front 47

Ozone Alert

Back 47

- man-made & BAD
- found in troposphere
- pollution
- air is harmful to breathe

Front 48

The measure of the sun's energy that reaches the earth. This is the energy that is not reflected by the clouds or absorbed by the air.

Back 48

solar constant

Front 49

A significant increase in the overall temperature of the earth in a relatively short period of time.

Back 49

global warming

Front 50

Effects of global warming

Back 50

- rise in sea level from melting snow and glaciers
- changes in seasons
- changes in ecosystems

Front 51

Carbon Dioxide - man-made sources:

Back 51

- burning fossil fuels
- deforestation
- waste incineration

Front 52

Methane (produced by decomposition of organic matter) - man-made sources:

Back 52

- raising livestock
- coal mining & drilling for oil & gas
- rice cultivation
- disposing of gargage in landfills
- burning forests & fields

Front 53

Nitrous Oxide - man-made sources:

Back 53

- fertilizers
- sewage

Front 54

Weather is affected by what 5 factors?

Back 54

- temperature
- atmospheric pressure
- humidity
- wind speed and direction
- precipitaion

Front 55

the average weather over a LONG period of time

Back 55

climate

Front 56

Temperature is affected by what 5 conditions?

Back 56

- distance from the sea
- ocean currents
- direction of prevailing winds
- altitude
- distance from the equator

Front 57

When does water boil?

Back 57

when vapor pressure = atmospheric pressure
So, water boils faster at higher altitude because of less atmospheric pressure.

Front 58

Why does a hot air balloon rise?

Back 58

As temperature increases, density and weight of the air inside the balloon decreases.