Transcript Chapter 15 Vocabulary - Laconia School District

Chapter 15 Vocabulary
Hannah Mansfield
November 14, 2007
T-4
Weather
• The state of the atmosphere with
respect to wind, temperature,
cloudiness, moisture, pressure, ect.
A Weather Map in the United
States on November 14, 2007
Atmosphere
• The gaseous
envelope
surrounding the
earth, the air.
Ozone
• A form of oxygen, O3 with a
peculiar odor suggesting that of
weak chlorine produced when an
electric spark or ultra violet light
is passed through air or oxygen. It
is found in the atmosphere in
minute quantities.
Where the Ozone is Located
Water Vapor and a Picture of
Water Vapor coming off of
Mt. Erebus
• A dispersion,in the
air, of molecules of
water, esp. As
produced by
evaporation at
ambient
temperatures rather
than by boiling.
Pollutant
• Any substance, as
certain chemicals
or waste products,
that renders the air,
soil, water, or other
natural resource
harmful or
unsuitable for a
specific purpose.
Photochemical Smog
• Air pollution
containing ozone and
other reactive
chemical compounds
formed by the action
of sunlight on
nitrogen oxides and
hydro carbons, esp.
those in automobile
exhaust.
Temperature Inversion
• Reversal in the
normal temperature
lapse rate, the
temperature rising
with increased
elevation instead of
falling.
Acid Rain
• Precipitation, as
rain, snow, or sleet
containing
relatively high
concentrations of
acid forming
chemicals.
Density
• The state or quality
of being dense;
compactness;
closely set or
crowded condition.
Pressure and Air Pressure
• The exertion of force
upon a surface by an
object, fluid, ect, in
contact with it.
• The face exerted by
air, whether
compressed or
unconfined, on any
surface in contact with
it.
Barometer
• An instrument that measures air
pressure.
Mercury Barometer
• A barometer in which
the weight of a column
of mercury in a glass
tube with a sealed top
is balanced against
that of the atmosphere
pressing on an
exposed cistern of
mercury at the base of
the mercury column,
the height of the
column varying with
atmospheric pressure.
Aneroid Barometer
• A device for measuring
atmospheric pressure,
often specially
calibrated for use as an
altimeter, consisting of
a box or chamber
partially exhausted of
air, having an elastic
top and a pointer to
indicate the degree of
compression on the top
caused by the external
air.
Altitude
• The height of
anything above a
given planetary
reference plane,
esp. above sea
level on earth
Troposphere, Stratosphere,
Mesosphere, and Thermosphere
• Troposphere:The lowest
layer of the Earth’s
atmosphere. Were cloud
formations and weather
occur.
• Stratosphere: The
second lowest layer of
Earth’s atmosphere; the
ozone layer is located
in the upper
stratosphere.
• Mesosphere:The
middle layer of Earth’s
atmosphere; the layer
in which most
meteoroids burn up. It
is the coldest layer.
• Thermosphere: The
outermost layer of
Earth’s atmosphere. It
is the hottest layer.
The Layers of the
Atmosphere
Ionosphere
• The lower part of
the thermosphere,
where electrically
charged particles
called ions are
found.
Aurora Borealis
• A colorful, glowing
display in the sky
caused when
particles from the
sun strike oxygen
and nitrogen atoms
in the ionosphere;
also called the
northern lights.
Exosphere
• The highest region
of the atmosphere,
where the air
density is very low.
It is located on the
outer layer of the
thermosphere
extending outward
towards space.