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Earth Science - Chapter 16
atmosphere: composition, structure, and temperature
20
Science
7th Grade
04/23/2006

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Term
air pressure
Definition
force exerted by the weight of overlying air

decreases with altitude
rapidly at first, then more slowly

millibar, pascal, inches of mercury
Term
earth-sun relationships
Definition
solar radiation not evenly distributed over the earth's surface

unequal heating
drives ocean currents
creates winds

heat is transported from the equator to the poles
Term
seasons
Definition
defined by dates on which the earth reaches ceratain points in its orbit about the sun

periods of greatest and least insolation are centered about the solstices

warmest and coldest periods do not coincide with the seasons - only match approximately!

earth closest to sun in jan
fathers from sun in july
Term
heat vs. temperature
Definition
heat - form of kinetic energy
extensive - depends on the amount of matter

temperature - measure of the hotness or coldness of an object
measure of average kinetic energy (heat) contained atoms or molecules of an object
intensive - depends on amt. of matter
Term
mechanisms of heat transfer
Definition
conduction
convection
radiation
Term
conduction
Definition
heat transfer through matter by molecular activity

requires physical contact for flow of heat from region of high temperature to region of low temperature

not particularly important to heat transport in the atmosphere
(air is a poor thermal conductor)
Term
convection and advection
Definition
transfer of heat by mass movement or fluid flow
Term
albedo
Definition
fraction of total radiation reflected by a surface

varies due to thickness of clouds,
particulate matter in the air,
angle of sun's rays to the earth's surface,
nature of surface material
Term
black body radiation
Definition
A black body is a theoretical object that absorbs 100% of the radiation that hits it.
Therefore it reflects no radiation and appears perfectly black.
Term
the Greenhouse effect
Definition
incoming radiation (mostly visible light) is absorbed by land and water, and then reradiated as IR radiation

certain gases absorb reradiated IR radiation

causing an increase in the atmospheric temperature
Term
greenhouse gases
Definition
gases that absorb reradiated IR radiation

CO2
Methane
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Nitrous Oxide
ozone
Term
daily mean temperature
Definition
average of maximum and minimum temperature
Term
daily range
Definition
difference between the maximum and minimum temperature
Term
monthly mean temperature
Definition
average of hthe daily mean temperatures
Term
annual mean temperature
Definition
average of the monthly mean temperature over a year
Term
annual temperature range
Definition
difference between he highest and lowest monthly mean temperatures
Term
temperature controls
Definition
variation in sun angle (latitude)
length of day
nature of earth's surface (land or water)
altitude
geographic position
cloud cover
albedo
Term
world distribution of temperature
Definition
january - north pole cooler

july south pole cooler, equator warmer
Term
equinox vs. solstice
Definition
equinox - time when the vertical rays of the sun are striking the equator.
the length of daylight and darkness is = at all latitudes

solstice - the time when the vertical rays of the sun are striking either the tropic of cancer or the tropic of capricorn.
solstice represents the longest or shortest day of the year
Term
heat capacity
Definition
ability of a body to store heat as it changes in temperature
rate of change of temperature as heat is added to a body at the given conditions and state of the body

expressed in units of joules per kelvin

"extensive quantity" because it is sensitive to the size of the object
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