BJU Earth Science Chapter 18A
. What is temperature like in the mesosphere?
-90° C (-130° F)
What are some important features of troposphere?
-Holds most of earths water vapor in atmosphere. -Regulates temp. and produces weather. -Forms lowest level of earths atmosphere.
What is the temperature like in the stratosphere?
3.5 degrees per thousand ft. or 6.5 degrees c per kil.
How does temperature change in troposphere?
It decreases with height
jet stream
One of several belts of high speed winds in the stratosphere that wind snake-like across upper and mid-latitudes in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
lapse rate
The steady drop of temperature with altitude in the troposphere.
mesosphere
The temperature layer in the earth's atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, extending from about 50 km to about 80 km; contains the coldest temperatures in the atmosphere.
stratosphere
The temperature layer in the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere and below the mesosphere; extending from about 11 km to about 50 km. Temperature increases with altitude in this region.
thermosphere
The temperature layer of the earth's atmosphere above the mesosphere, extending from 80 km to about 300 km; the hottest temperatures in the atmosphere are here.
mesopause
The upper boundary of the mesosphere.
stratopause
The upper boundary of the stratosphere.
thermopause
The upper boundary of the thermosphere. Boundary between the thermosphere and the exosphere
tropopause
The upper boundary of the troposphere.
homosphere
The zone of a uniform mixture of gases closest to the earth's surface; extends from ground level to an altitude of about 80 km.
heterosphere
The zone of the earth's atmosphere above the homosphere consisting of distinct layers of different gases; extends from about 80 km into interplanetary space.
Haber-Bosch Process
Turns nitrogen in the air into artificial fertilizer; named after the two chemists that introduced the method.
thermals
Winds in the jet stream that birds ride allowing them to save energy during migration.
exosphere
Region of the atmosphere above the thermosphere where the atmosphere thins into interplanetary space.
nitrogen fixing bacteria
Take atmospheric nitrogen, and, through a series of chemical reactions, release ammonia or ammonia compounds; create organic or fixed nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen.
atmosphere
The envelope of gases that surrounds any astronomical body; the mass of gases that surrounds the earth.
carbon cycle
The flow of the element carbon and its compounds among the carbon reservoirs in the atmosphere, ocean, land, rocks and sediments in the upper lithosphere, and the earth's deep interior; replenishes the carbon compounds required by living organisms.
nitrogen cycle
The flow of the element nitrogen and its compounds among the nitrogen reservoirs in the atmosphere, ocean, and soil; replenishes the nitrogen required by living organisms.
troposphere
The lowest temperature layer of earth's atmosphere extending from ground level to about 11 km; this region is the location of most of the earth's weather. Temperature generally decreases steadily with altitude.
What thermal mixing happens in the troposphere?
The mixing of ratio H2O vapor.
