Earth Science 11th
Edition Vocabulary Chapter 16
By Megan Andrews (GLY 1001 Student North Campus
Fall 2006)
Meteorology-the scientific study of the atmosphere and atmosphere
phenomena; the study of weather and climate.
aerosols- tiny liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere.
air- a mixture of many discrete gases of which nitrogen and oxygen are most
abundant. In which varying quantities of tiny solid and liquid particles are
suspended.
albedo- the reflectivity of a substance
usually expressed as a percentage of the incident radiation reflected.
autumnal equinox- equinox occurs at the September
21-23 in the Northern Hemisphere and on March 21-22 in the Southern Hemisphere.
circle of illumination- The great circle that separates
daylight from darkness.
climate- a description of aggregate weather conditions, the sum of all
statistical weather information that describes a place or region.
cold –
the absence of heat
conduction- the transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity. Energy is
transferred through collisions from one molecule to another.
convection- the transfer of heat by the movement of a mass or substance. It can
take place only in fluids (liquids or gases).
diffused light- solar energy scattered and reflected
in the atmosphere that reaches earth's surface in the form of diffuse blue
light from sky.
electromagnetic radiation- transfer of energy through space
by electromagnetic waves
element- a substance that cant be decomposed into simple substances by ordinary
chemical or physical means.
environmental lapse rate- the rate which temperature
decrease with increasing height in the troposphere.
greenhouse effect- the transmission of short wave
solar radiation by the atmosphere, coupled
with selective absorption of longer wave length terrestrial radiation.
Heat- kinetic energy of random molecular motion.
inclination of axis- the tilt of the earth's axis from
the perpendicular plane of earth's axis.
infrared- radiation with a wavelength
from 7.0 to 200 micrometers.
isotherm- Lines connecting points to equal temperature.
mesotherm-
ozone- a molecule of oxygen containing 3 oxygen atoms.
radiation- transfer of energy through space by electromagnetic waves.
reflection- the process whereby light bounces back from an
object at the same angle at which it encounters a surface and with the same
intensity.
revolution- the motion of one body about another as the earth rotates about the
sun.
rotation- spinning of a body such as earth about its axis.
scattering- the redirecting of light by small particles and gas molecules in the
atmosphere. The result =diffused light.
spring equinox- equinox in March 21-22 in the
northern hemisphere and September 21-22 in southern hemisphere.
stratosphere- layer immediately above troposphere characterized by increasing
temperature with height, owing to the concentration of ozone.
summer solstice- solstice that occurs on June 21-22
in the Northern Hemisphere and December 21-22 in the Southern Hemisphere.
temperature- a measure of degree of hotness or coldness of a substance. The measure of the average kinetic energy of individual atoms or
molecules in a substance.
thermosphere- region of atmosphere immediately above the mesosphere and characterized
by increasing temperatures.
Tropic of Cancer- the parallel of latitude, 23½ degrees North
latitude, marking the northern limit of Sun’s vertical rays.
Tropic of Capricorn- the parallel of latitude 23½
degrees south latitude marking the southern limit of Sun’s vertical rays.
troposphere- the loser most layer of decrease in temperature within the atmosphere.
ultraviolet- radiation with a wavelength from .2-.4 micrometers.
visible light- radiation with a wavelength from
.4-.7 micrometers.
weather- the state of the atmosphere at any given time.
winter solstice- the solstice that occurs on
December 21-22 for the Northern Hemisphere and June 21-22 for Southern
Hemisphere.
Words from Apendix
B page 704
39. latitude – the distance, measured in
degrees, north and south of the equator.
40. longitude - the distance, measured in
degrees, east and west of the zero or prime meridian.
41. great circle – the largest possible
circle that may be drawn on a globe
42. Equator
– The great circle of the Earth that is 0o latitude.
43. Meridian
– the North-South lines of the earths grid system.
44. Parallel
– the East-West lines of the earths grid system
45. Prime
Meridian – The 0o degree
meridian, which is the meridian which passes through Royal Observatory at
Greenwich, England.
46. Hemisphere
– half of the earth when sliced in half at any great circle
47. Arctic
Circle -
the parallel of latitude, 66½ degrees North latitude, where north of this
parallel it is possible to have 24 hours of daylight and 24 hours of darkness
at various times of the year. It is also know as the land of the Midnight Sun.
48. Antarctic
Circle - the
parallel of latitude, 66½ degrees South latitude, where south of this parallel
it is possible to have 24 hours of daylight and 24 hours of darkness at various
times of the year.
Chapter
16 The Atmosphere: Composition,
Structure, and Temperature Word List
Aerosols Air Albedo Autumnal Equinox Circle of
Illumination Climate Cold Conduction Convection Diffused Light Electromagnetic
Radiation Element (of weather
and climate) |
Environmental lapse
rate Greenhouse effect Heat Inclination of the
axis Infrared
(radiation) Isotherm Meteorology Mesosphere Ozone Radiation Reflection Revolution Rotation |
Scattering Spring Equinox
(vernal) Stratosphere Summer solstice Temperature Thermosphere Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn Troposphere Ultraviolet
(radiation) Visible Light Weather Winter solstice |
Appendix B Earth’s Grid System Word
List
Latitude Longitude Meridians Parallels |
Great Circles Hemisphere Equator Prime Meridian |
Artic Circle Antarctic Circle |