APES: Atmosphere

Atmosphere

Thin layer of gases that surround the earths surface. Provides O2, absorbs radiation, and moderates climate.

Thermosphere

Top layer that extends 500/200 miles above the earths surface. Contains very little vertical mixing.

Temperature

Varies with location and time.

Greenhouse Effect

Warming of the lower atmosphere due to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Stratosphere

11-50 km (7-31m) above sea level. Drier and less dense than the troposphere. Little vertical mixing. Gets warmer with altitude. Contains UV radiation (blocking ozone).

Mesosphere

50-80km (31-56m) above sea level. Extremely low air pressure. Temperature decreases with altitude.

Milankovitch Cycles

Alter the way solar radiation emits, over both long and short time scales.

Radiative Forcing

Amount of thermal energy a factor causes.

Ozone

An element essential in the upper atmosphere and lethal in the lower atmosphere.

Global Climate Change

Aspects of the Earths climate changing their intensity.

Ferrell Cells

Cells located at 30 degrees. Experience own Coriolis effect

Polar cells

Cells located at 60 degrees. Experience own Coriolis effect

Equatorial Cells (Hadley Cells)

Cells located at the equator. Experience own Coriolis effect.

Trace elements

Components of the atmosphere other than nitrogen and oxygen.

Pressure

Force per unit area produced by a column of air.

Convective Circulation

Less dense, warm air rises causing vertical currents. Rising air expands and cools. That cool air descends and becomes denser replacing the rising warm air.

Oxygen

Makes up 21% of the atmosphere

Nitrogen

Makes up 78% of the atmosphere

Aerosols

Microscopic droplets/particles that have either a warming or cooling effect.

Solar Energy

Moves air, creates seasons, and influences weather/climate.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Panel that informs the world on climate change.

Climate

Patterns of atmospheric conditions across large geographic areas/periods of time. (what we expect).

Tropopause

Prevents vertical mixing between the the troposphere and stratosphere.

Climate Models

Programs that simulate climate processes

Relative Humidity

Ratio of water vapor the air contains to the amount it could contain at a given temperature.

Greenhouse Gases

Re-emit infrared radiation after absorbing radiation.

Weather

Specific atmospheric conditions across small geographic regions and small time periods. (what we get).

Albedo

The amount of radiation reflected by a surface.

Troposphere

The bottommost layer of the atmosphere (11 km (7m)). Provides air for breathing and weather. Gets colder with altitude.

Coriolis Effect

The curve of air currents due to the Earth's rotation.

Dew Point

The level of humidity.

Goldilocks Region

The region the Earth is located in. This region is the perfect distance from the sun, not too hot, not too cold.