Chapter 12 Earth's Atmosphere Lessons 1 and 2

Where do the Auroras occur?

Ionosphere

What does the ionosphere have to do with AM radio waves?

It reflect the waves

What makes up 78% percent of the atmosphere

Nitrogen

What makes up 21% of the atmosphere

Oxygen

What makes up 1% of the atmosphere?

Ozone, Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, and Argon

Atmosphere

A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth

Radiation

The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves

convection

The transfer of thermal energy by the CIRCULATION or movement of a liquid or gas

Ionosphere

a region within the mesosphere and the thermosphere that contains ions; RADIO WAVES are reflected; AURORAS occur here.

What happens to air pressure as altitude increases?

air pressure decreases

Troposphere

atmospheric layer closet to Earth's surface

Ozone layer

atmospheric layer in which ozone gas is relatively concentrated; PROTECTS life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays in sunlight

Why is the ozone layer important?

blocks us from harmful UV (Ultra violet) rays

stabiltiy

describes circulating air to be strong or weak in the atmosphere

When is Auroras best seen?

during winter skies at night

The atmosphere gases carbon dioxide, water vapor and methane trap Infrared radiation causing

greenhouse effect

temperature inversion

layer of cooler air is trapped by a layer of warmer air above it

process

ordered series of actions

Air pressure

pressure that column of air exerts on anything below it

How does earth not overheat?

radiation balance

Stratosphere

the atmospheric layer directly above the troposphere containing the OZONE layer

latent heat

the energy absorbed or released during a change in state; water - changing between solid, liquid, gas

Exosphere

the outermost region of a planet's atmosphere.

conduction

the transfer of thermal energy by COLLISIONS between particles of matter (touch)

thermosphere

thicker layer than other layers of the atmosphere; home to the International Space Station and also low Earth orbit satellites.

reflect

to bend or throw back light, heat, or sound after striking a surface