Unit 1 Atmosphere And Weather

Front 1

Atmosphere

Back 1

The envelope of gases that surrounds Earth.

Front 2

Trophosphere

Back 2

layer of Earth's amosphere closest to Earth's surface (where weather takes place and where most pollution occurs)

Front 3

Stratosphere

Back 3

12 to 50 km, Ozone held here, absorbs UV radiation

Front 4

Mesosphere

Back 4

50 to 80 km, most meteorites burn up here

Front 5

Thermosphere

Back 5

The outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere.

Front 6

Greenhouse Effect

Back 6

Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases

Front 7

Density

Back 7

Mass / Volume

Front 8

Air Pressure

Back 8

The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface

Front 9

Ozone

Back 9

gas that absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation, found in the stratosphere, a zone between 15 and 50 kilometers (9 to 30 miles) above Earth's surface. A form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of the usual two.

Front 10

Barometer

Back 10

An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure: (Mercury or Aneroid)

Front 11

Cirrus

Back 11

Wispy, feathery clouds made of ice crystals that form at high levels.

Front 12

Cumulus

Back 12

Fluffy, white clouds, usually with flat bottoms, that look like rounded piles of cotton.

Front 13

Stratus

Back 13

Clouds that form in flat layers and often cover much of the sky.

Front 14

Global Winds

Back 14

winds that blow steadily from specific directions over long distances

Front 15

Coriolis Effect

Back 15

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents.

Front 16

Air Mass

Back 16

a large area of air that has uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure

Front 17

Fronts

Back 17

Area where any two air masses meet.

Front 18

Cold Front

Back 18

When a cold air mass overtakes a warm air mass

Front 19

Warm Front

Back 19

When a slow moving warm air mass takes over a cold air mass

Front 20

Occluded Front

Back 20

When a warm air mass is trapped between/above two cold fronts

Front 21

Stationary Front

Back 21

When you have a cold and warm air mass and neither is strong enough to move the other out of the way. (Like a tie in tug-o-war)

Front 22

Hurricane

Back 22

a storm with winds of at least 74 miles per hour a storm that forms over warm, tropical ocean waters

Front 23

Tornado

Back 23

a localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground

Front 24

Meteorologist

Back 24

scientists who study the causes of weather and try to predict it

Front 25

Scientific inquiry

Back 25

the way scientist study, gather information, and explain

Front 26

Hypothesis

Back 26

possible answer to science questions (testable)

Front 27

Non-renewable resource

Back 27

once it is used, it is gone—it cannot be replaced

Front 28

Natural resource

Back 28

a resource found in nature (coal, wind, sun, etc)

Front 29

Environmental Science

Back 29

study of the environment

Front 30

Data

Back 30

information

Front 31

Scientific theory

Back 31

well-tested explanation that can change

Front 32

Scientific law

Back 32

describes pattern in nature

Front 33

Scientific literacy

Back 33

understanding of science

Front 34

Technology

Back 34

something that helps you in your everyday life

Front 35

Weather

Back 35

the condition of the earths atmosphere at a specific time and place

Front 36

Water Vapor

Back 36

water in a vaporous form especially when below boiling temperature and diffused (as in the atmosphere)

Front 37

Ionosphere

Back 37

which extends from about 30 miles (50 kilometers) to the exosphere; the auroras are found here; radio waves travel here

Front 38

Exosphere

Back 38

the outermost layer of the atmosphere; satellites here; last layer before outer space

Front 39

Radiation

Back 39

energy that comes from a source in the form of waves or rays you cannot see

Front 40

Temperature

Back 40

a measurement that indicates how hot or cold something is : a measurement in degrees showing the heat of something (such as air or water)

Front 41

Heat

Back 41

to cause (something) to become warm or hot

Front 42

Conduction

Back 42

the movement of heat or electricity through something (such as metal or water)

Front 43

Convection

Back 43

movement in a gas or liquid in which the warmer parts move up and the colder parts move down; also : the transfer of heat by this movement

Front 44

Jet Stream

Back 44

a strong current of fast winds high above the Earth's surface

Front 45

Land Breeze

Back 45

local wind; convection current in which the air over the land is cooler than over the water causing a convection current that flows from the land to the sea.

Front 46

Sea Breeze

Back 46

local wind; convection current in which air over the sea is cooler than over the land causing a convection current that flows from the sea to the land.

Front 47

Water Cycle

Back 47

cycle by which water evaporates, condenses, and returns to earth.

Front 48

Evaporation

Back 48

to change from a liquid into a gas

Front 49

Condensation

Back 49

the process by which a gas cools and becomes a liquid

Front 50

Precipitation

Back 50

rain, sleet, snow, hail

Front 51

Runoff

Back 51

water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground into streams

Front 52

Humidity

Back 52

moisture in the air : the amount of moisture in the air

Front 53

Dew Point

Back 53

the temperature at which the moisture in the air forms visible drops of water : the temperature at which dew forms

Front 54

High Pressure

Back 54

Area of high pressure associated with periods dry weather conditions (high barometer readings)

Front 55

Low Pressure

Back 55

Area of low pressure associated with periods of precipitation (low barometer readings)

Front 56

Meteorology

Back 56

a science that deals with the atmosphere and with weather

Front 57

Smog

Back 57

fog mixed with smoke : a cloud of dirty air from cars, factories, etc., that is usually found in cities

Front 58

Pollutant

Back 58

a substance that makes land, water, air, etc., dirty and not safe or suitable to use : something that causes pollution

Front 59

Abundant

Back 59

existing or occurring in large amounts

Front 60

Photochemical

Back 60

of, relating to, or resulting from the chemical action of radiant energy and especially light (smog)

Front 61

Chlorofluorocarbons

Back 61

a gas that was once commonly used in various products (such as aerosols) but that is believed to cause damage to the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere (a gas that was once commonly used in various products (such as aerosols) but that is believed to cause damage to the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere (CFC's)