Chapter 4-5
Dew
Moisture that forms as a result of condensation
Absorbed radiation
Portion of incoming radiation absorbed by gases in the atmosphere and clouds
Reflected radiation
Portion of incoming radiation reflected by clouds and the earth's surface
Orographic uplift
Precipitation caused by air forced over rising terrain
Frontal uplift
Precipitation caused by contrasting air masses meeting along a weather front
Convectional precipitation
Precipitation caused by warm air rising and cooling
Temperature inversion
Prevents air from rising into the stratosphere
Evaporation
Process of liquid water turning into water vapor
Condensation
Process of water vapor turning into liquid droplets
Albedo
Proportion of solar radiation reflected by the earth's surface
Longwave radiation
Radiation emitted by the earth's surface and atmosphere
Precipitation
Water falling from the atmosphere to the earth's surface
Freezing rain
Rain that freezes upon contact with the ground
Sleet
Icy precipitation formed by a layer of warm air between cold air layers
Incoming solar radiation
Main energy input for the atmosphere
Humidity
Amount of water vapor in the air
Atmosphere
Area of transparent gases surrounding the earth
Energy budget
Balance between energy received and lost by the atmosphere
Hail
Balls of ice formed in thunderstorm clouds
Nimbostratus
Cloud type that produces precipitation
Diurnal range
Difference between day and night
Net radiation balance
Difference between incoming and outgoing radiation
Coriolis effect
Effect of Earth's rotation causing winds to curve
Local energy budget
Energy budget for specific areas of the planet
Graupel
Frosty kind of snow formed by snow crystals and cold water droplets
Snow
Frozen precipitation formed by below-freezing air
Latent heat transfer
Heat energy used when liquid turns into vapor
Surface absorption
Heating of the surface by absorbed solar radiation
Rain
Liquid water droplets falling from the atmosphere
Sea breeze
Local wind blowing from the cooler ocean to the warmer land
Land breeze
Local wind blowing from the land to the sea
Climate
Long-term average conditions in the atmosphere
Outgoing radiation
Longwave radiation emitted by the earth's surface
Troposphere
Lowest part of the atmosphere where weather occurs
Latitudinal pattern of radiation
Pattern of excesses and deficits of radiation at different latitudes
Weather
Short-term conditions of the atmosphere
Incoming radiation
Shortwave radiation from the sun
Bergeron-Findeisen theory
Theory of precipitation formation through the growth of ice crystals
Collision theory
Theory of snow formation through the collision of ice crystals
Sensible heat transfer
Transfer of heat energy by direct conduction or convection
Conduction
Transfer of heat through direct contact
Convection
Transfer of heat through the movement of air or water
Local winds
Winds resulting from air moving between small low and high pressure systems
Trade winds
Winds that blow from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and southeast in the Southern Hemisphere
Global winds
Winds that flow from east to west due to the Coriolis effect
Layers of the atmosphere
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere