chapter 17 Flashcards
Troposphere
The lowermost layer of the atmosphere; it is generally characterized by a decrease in temperature with height
Ozone
A molecule of oxygen containing three oxygen atoms.
Stratosphere
The layer of the atmosphere immediately above the troposphere, characterized by increasing temperatures with height due to the concentration of ozone
Mesosphere
The layer of the atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere and characterized by decreasing temperatures with height
Thermosphere
The region of the atmosphere immediately above the mesosphere and characterized by increasing temperatures due to absorption of very short-wave solar energy by oxygen
Summer solstice
The solstice that occurs on June 21or 22 in the northern hemisphere and on December 21 or 22 on the Southern Hemisphere
Winter solstice
The solstice that occurs on December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere and on June 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere
Autumnal equinox
The equinox that occurs on September 22 or 23 in the northern hemisphere and on march 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere
Spring equinox
The equinox that occurs on march 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere
Heat
Thermal energy transferred from one object to another
Temperature
A measure of the average kinetic energy of individual atoms or molecules in a substance
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 only take place in fluids
Radiation
The transfer of energy (heat) through space by electromagnetic waves
Reflection
The process whereby light bounces back from an object at the same angle in which it encounters a surface and with the same intensity
