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Earth's Atmosphere

Science

Earth's Atmosphere Chapter Video

Earth's Atmosphere Chapter Video

air pollution

the release of harmful materials into the atmosphere by human and natural activity
air pollution Simple Definition

air pressure

the weight of the air pressing down on a surface
air pressure Simple Definition

altitude

the height above sea level
altitude Simple Definition

anemometer

an instrument that measures wind speed
anemometer Simple Definition

atmosphere

the layer of gases that surround the Earth
atmosphere Simple Definition

barometer

an instrument that measures air pressure
barometer Simple Definition

conduction

the transfer of heat energy between two objects through direct contact
conduction Simple Definition

convection

the transfer of heat energy from a warmer area to a cooler area in a liquid or gas
convection Simple Definition

convection current

the movement pattern in a fluid caused by temperature differences within the fluid
convection current Simple Definition

coriolis effect

the effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and current
coriolis effect Simple Definition

density

an object’s mass per unit volume
density Simple Definition

electromagnetic wave

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

exosphere

the outermost layer of the atmosphere
exosphere Simple Definition

greenhouse effect

the warming of the Earth when the atmosphere traps heat like a blanket
greenhouse effect Simple Definition

heat

the thermal energy transferred from a warmer object to a cooler object
heat Simple Definition

hydrosphere

all the water on Earth
hydrosphere Simple Definition

infrared radiation

electromagnetic waves with wavelengths longer than that of red light
infrared radiation Simple Definition

ionosphere

a layer of electrically charged particles in the thermosphere
ionosphere Simple Definition

jet stream

a band of high-speed wind between the troposphere and the stratosphere
jet stream Simple Definition

land breeze

the flow of air from land to the sea, in the nighttime
land breeze Simple Definition

mesosphere

the layer of Earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere but below the thermosphere
mesosphere Simple Definition

ozone

a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms, it blocks UV rays
ozone Simple Definition

radiation

the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves, it does not require matter
radiation Simple Definition

sea breeze

the flow of air from the sea to land, in the daytime
sea breeze Simple Definition

smog

gray-brown air pollution made up of chemicals
smog Simple Definition

stratosphere

the second lowest layer of the atmosphere, it extends 15 to 50 km above Earth
stratosphere Simple Definition

temperature

how hot or cold something is, it is determined by the kinetic energy of its particles
temperature Simple Definition

thermometer

an instrument that measures temperature
thermometer Simple Definition

thermosphere

the uppermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere
thermosphere Simple Definition

troposphere

the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth’s surface
troposphere Simple Definition

ultraviolet radiation

electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, it tans skin and can cause cancer
ultraviolet radiation Simple Definition

wind

air movement caused by pressure differences
wind Simple Definition

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