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.