Term
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Definition
| the layer of gases that surround the Earth which are necessary to support life |
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Term
| main elements in the atmosphere |
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Definition
| "Mostly Nitrogen & Oxygen, with traces of Argon, Neon, Helium, Krypton, Xenon, Hydrogen" |
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Term
| 2 main compounds found in the atmosphere |
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Definition
| "Water Vapor, and Carbon Dioxide" |
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Term
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Definition
| "solids like dust, salt, and pollen which water vapor clings to as it condenses creating clouds" |
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Term
| name the 5 layers of the atmosphere in order |
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Definition
| "Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere" |
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Term
| Properties of the troposphere |
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Definition
| "Closest to Earth, 0-10 km, most of the matter in the atmosphere; clouds and weather are located here; temps decrease as altitude increases" |
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Term
| Properties of the stratosphere |
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Definition
| 10-50 km; contains the ozone layere which absorbs some of the Sun's radiation; temps increase |
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Term
| Properties of the Mesoosphere |
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Definition
| "50-85 km; no ozone to absorb radiation, so temps drop to lowest level in the atmosphere" |
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Term
| Properties of the Thermosphere |
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Definition
| 85-500km; thickest layer; temps increase to highest amount 1700 degrees C; filters out - and gamma rays |
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Term
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Definition
| made of part of the mesosphere and thermosphere; reflects radio waves making long distance communication possible |
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Term
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Definition
| "last outermost layer; few atoms of anything; space starts in this layer, but no real boundary." |
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Term
| water cycle Hydrological) |
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Definition
| "a never ending process that keeps water in constant motion. Powered by the Sun, it includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection" |
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Term
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Definition
| process of changing liquid water to gaseous water as in the water cycle |
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Term
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Definition
| water vapor given off by plants and plant leaves |
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Term
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Definition
| process of changing a gas back into a liquid caused by a decrease in energy |
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Term
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Definition
| "process when drops of water or ice crystal become to big and fall out out clouds. Can be rain, sleet, hail, snow, or freezing rain" |
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Term
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Definition
| describes the current conditions of the atmosphere |
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Term
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Definition
| "things that can ccause weather to change included: temperature; cloud cover; wind speed and direction;humidity, and air pressure " |
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Term
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Definition
| person who has the job of monitoring and forecasting the weather |
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Term
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Definition
| a measurement that describes how fast or slow air molecules are moving |
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Term
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Definition
| tool used to measure temperature; |
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Term
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Definition
| transfer of energy that can occur through empty space and does not involve collision or movement of molecules; the Sun heats the Earth through process of radiation |
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Term
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Definition
| transfer of heat from warmer substance to a cooler substance by contact |
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Term
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Definition
| transfer of heat through currents; warmer to cooler cycle |
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Term
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Definition
| the amount of moisture or water vapor in the atmosphere |
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Term
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Definition
| the point in which the air is holding as much water vapor as it can and is saturated (full) |
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Term
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Definition
| a measure of the amount of water vapor that is present COMPARED to the amount that could be held at a specific temperature |
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Term
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Definition
| " occurs when air rises, cools, and condenses onto small particles in the atmosphere; basically masses of waterdroplets or ice crystals" |
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Term
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Definition
| "Nimbostratus; Cumulus, Stratus; Stratocumulus" |
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Term
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Definition
| altostratus; cumulonimbus; altocumulus |
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Term
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Definition
| "cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus" |
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Term
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Definition
| "rain, sleet, snow, hail, freezing rain" |
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Term
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Definition
| science tool used to measure wind speed |
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Term
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Definition
| "is created by air moving from one temperature or pressure to another. The greater the temperature or pressure, the stronger the wind speed will be." |
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Term
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Definition
| " due to the rotation of the Earth, moving air in the Northern hemisphere is deflected to the right ( or left if in the So. Hemisphere)" |
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Term
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Definition
| large body of air that develops over a particular region |
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Term
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Definition
| the boundary line between two masses of different temperatures |
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Term
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Definition
| cold air mass pushes under a warmer air mass. The result pushes the warmer air up and thunderstorms develop |
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Term
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Definition
| warmer air mass slides up and over a colder air mass |
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Term
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Definition
| "warmer air mass and colder air mass collide, but neither one advances up and over the other" |
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Term
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Definition
| colder air mass takes over a slower moving warmer air mass; |
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Term
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Definition
| a violent whirling wind that moves in a narrow path; can be rated as F1 to F5; a low pressure storm |
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Term
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Definition
| a large storm that begins as an area of low pressure over a tropical ocean of very warm water; can last for a week or more at a time. |
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