STUDY: Atmospheric Processes Vocabulary
Atmospheric Processes Vocabulary
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Earth's Atmosphere
Acid rain: when the pH of precipitation is lowered below a pH of 5, meaning it is more acidic than normal
Air pollution: any substance released into the atmosphere in harmful/unnatural amounts
Air pressure: force of air weighing down over a unit of area
Convection: heat transferred through the movement of a fluid (e.g. air or water)
Heat: energy transferred from one object to another
Latent heat: heat taken in or released when an object changes state (solid, liquid, gas)
Ozone: 3 oxygen atoms
Particulate matter: droplets and solid materials suspended in the air
Specific heat: amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of the material by one degree C
Temperature: measure of how fast the atoms in a material are vibrating
Temperature gradient: change in temperature with distance
Solar Energy Distribution
Albedo: percentage of solar radiation reflected back into space
Conduction: transfer of heat through direct contact between objects
Convection: transfer of heat through the movement of a fluid or gas
Convection Current: circulating path of heat transfer by material heating and rising and cooling and sinking
Heat: energy transported between objects of two different temperatures
Infrared: sun's radiation that has lower wavelenth than visible light
Mitochondria: cell structures that convert energy that has been stored as carbohydrates into ATP
Photosynthesis: process by which plants create energy from the sun and carbon dioxide and water
Radiation: transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
Ultraviolet: sun's energy that has highest wavelength
Greenhouse Effect
Antarctic Circle: located at 66.5 ºS latitude
Arctic Circle: located at 66.5 ºN latitude
Coriolis Effect: occurs due to Earth's rotation; causes objects to move in a curved path rather than a straight line
Intertropical Convergence Zone: located where the northern and southern trade winds meet at the equator; characterized by stormy weather
North Pole: located at 90 ºN latitude
Polar Easterlies: global wind system located near the poles, starting at 60º N and S latitudes and extending poleward
Prevailing Westerlies: global wind systems located in the norhtern and southern hemispheres in a zone between 30-60º N and S latitude
Revolution: amount of time it takes Earth to complete one trip around the sun; 365 days
Rotation: amount of time it takes Earth to complete one spin on its axis; 24 hours
South Pole: located at 90 ºS latitude
Subpolar Low: zone of low pressure located between the polar easterlies and prevailing westerlies
Subtropical High: high pressure zone associated with the trade winds
Trade Winds: global wind system located between 30ºN and 30ºS latitude
Weather & Climate
Albedo: fraction of solar radiation that is reflected back to space
Anemometer: instrument used to measure wind speed
Barometer: instrument used to measure air pressure
Climate: average weather of an area over a period of 30+ years
Climatologist: scientist that studies climate
Dew Point: temperature to which air must be cooled to be saturated
Front: boundary between 2 air masses
Humidity: the amount of water vapor held in the air
Hurricanes: tropical, cyclonic storms that produce winds that travel at 120-240 mph
Hygrometer: instrument used to measure humidity
Precipitation: water falling from clouds
Relative Humidity: percentage of moisture in the air
Revolution: amount of time it takes Earth to complete one trip around the sun; 365 days
Rotation: amount of time it takes Earth to complete one spin on its axis; 24 hours
Saturated: when air contains as much moisture as it can possibly hold; relative humidity is 100%
Supercells: most powerful thunderstorms; required for tornado formation
Tropic of Cancer: located at 23.5 ºN latitude
Tropic of Capricorn: located at 23.5 ºS latitude
Vortices: spinning columns of air
Weather: describes present state of the atmosphere and current conditions.
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