Earth's Atmosphere

Science

The layer of gases that surround the Earth

Atmosphere

The layer of gases that surround the Earth. atmosphere. The atmosphere is the blanket of air that keeps our planet warm and protects us from harmful solar radiation.

Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths longer than that of red light

Infrared radiation

Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths longer than that of red light. Infrared radiation. Infrared radiation is a type of light energy we cannot see, but we feel as heat.

The second lowest layer of the atmosphere, it extends 15 to 50 km above Earth

Stratosphere

The second lowest layer of the atmosphere, it extends 15 to 50 km above Earth. Stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful sun radiation.

The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth’s surface

Troposphere

The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earths surface. Troposphere. The troposphere is where all our weather happens and is the lowest part of the atmosphere.

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, it tans skin and can cause cancer

Ultraviolet radiation

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, it tans skin and can cause cancer. Ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is a type of light from the sun that is invisible to the eye and can cause skin damage.

The warming of the Earth when the atmosphere traps heat like a blanket

Greenhouse effect

The warming of the Earth when the atmosphere traps heat like a blanket. Greenhouse effect. It is when gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warmer.

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and current

Coriolis effect

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and current Coriolis effect. The Coriolis effect causes moving air and water to turn and twist around the Earth, affecting weather patterns and ocean currents.

A band of high-speed wind between the troposphere and the stratosphere

Jet stream

A band of high-speed wind between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Jet stream. Jet streams are fast-flowing air currents in the atmosphere that influence weather and climate patterns.

Air movement caused by pressure differences

Wind

Air movement caused by pressure differences. Wind. Wind is the movement of air from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas.

The transfer of heat energy between two objects through direct contact

Conduction

The transfer of heat energy between two objects through direct contact. Conduction is when heat moves through a material or from one object to another by touching directly.

The transfer of heat energy from a warmer area to a cooler area in a liquid or gas

Convection

The transfer of heat energy from a warmer area to a cooler area in a liquid or gas. Convection. Convection is when warmer, less dense liquid or gas rises and cooler, denser liquid or gas sinks, creating a cycle of heat transfer.

The movement pattern in a fluid caused by temperature differences within the fluid

Convection current

The movement pattern in a fluid caused by temperature differences within the fluid. Convection current. It's the circular motion of fluid, like water or air, caused by warmer, less dense areas rising and cooler, denser areas sinking.

The outermost layer of the atmosphere

Exosphere

The outermost layer of the atmosphere. Exosphere. The exosphere is the thin, outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere where air molecules are very sparse and can escape into space.

The layer of Earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere but below the thermosphere

Mesosphere

The layer of Earths atmosphere above the stratosphere but below the thermosphere. Mesosphere. The mesosphere is a layer where meteors burn up, creating shooting stars visible from Earth.

A molecule composed of three oxygen atoms, it blocks UV rays

Ozone

A molecule composed of three oxygen atoms, it blocks UV rays. Ozone is a gas in the Earth's atmosphere that protects us by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves, it does not require matter

Radiation

The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves, it does not require matter. Radiation is the movement of energy through space without needing a medium.

The uppermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere

Thermosphere

The uppermost layer of Earths atmosphere. Thermosphere. The thermosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere where temperatures can get very high due to the absorption of solar radiation.

The thermal energy transferred from a warmer object to a cooler object

Heat

The thermal energy transferred from a warmer object to a cooler object. Heat. Heat is the energy that moves from something warm to something cooler.

How hot or cold something is, it is determined by the kinetic energy of its particles

Temperature

How hot or cold something is, it is determined by the kinetic energy of its particles. Temperature is a measure of how fast the particles in an object are moving.

A layer of electrically charged particles in the thermosphere

Ionosphere

A layer of electrically charged particles in the thermosphere. Ionosphere. The ionosphere is a part of Earth's atmosphere that contains charged particles and reflects radio waves, allowing for long-distance communication.

The flow of air from land to the sea, in the nighttime

Land breeze

The flow of air from land to the sea, in the nighttime. Land breeze. A land breeze is a nighttime wind that blows from the cooler land to the warmer sea.

The flow of air from the sea to land, in the daytime

Sea breeze

The flow of air from the sea to land, in the daytime. Sea breeze. A sea breeze is a cool wind blowing from the sea to the land that occurs during the day when the land heats up faster than the water.

The weight of the air pressing down on a surface

Air pressure

The weight of the air pressing down on a surface. Air pressure. Air pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air molecules pressing down on Earth.

The release of harmful materials into the atmosphere by human and natural activity

Air pollution

The release of harmful materials into the atmosphere by human and natural activity. Air pollution. Air pollution is when harmful substances like gases, smoke, or chemicals are added to the air we breathe, making it dirty and unsafe.

The height above sea level

Altitude

The height above sea level. Altitude. Altitude is how high something is above the Earth's sea level.

An object’s mass per unit volume

Density

An object's mass per unit volume. Density. Density is how much stuff is packed into a certain amount of space.

Gray-brown air pollution made up of chemicals

Smog

Gray-brown air pollution made up of chemicals. Smog. Smog is a type of air pollution caused by the interaction of sunlight with pollutants from vehicles and industries.

All the water on Earth

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth. Hydrosphere. The hydrosphere is the combined mass of all the water found on, under, and over the surface of the Earth.

A wave of electric and magnetic energy that can travel through matter or a vacuum, like X-rays

Electromagnetic wave

A wave of electric and magnetic energy that can travel through matter or a vacuum, like X-rays. Electromagnetic waves are invisible waves of energy that include light, radio, and X-rays traveling through space.

An instrument that measures wind speed

Anemometer

An instrument that measures wind speed. Anemometer. An anemometer is a device used to measure how fast the wind is blowing.

An instrument that measures air pressure

Barometer

An instrument that measures air pressure. Barometer. A barometer is a device that helps us understand weather by measuring the pressure of the air.

An instrument that measures temperature

Thermometer

An instrument that measures temperature. Thermometer. A thermometer is a device used to measure how hot or cold something is.