Ch. 1 Geography 120

gases that remain almost constant in the atmosphere

• -Nitrogen
• -Oxygen
• -Argon

gases that are not constant in the atmosphere. Comprise of very small amount of atmosphere.

• -water vapor
• -carbon dioxide
• -Ozone

process by which water is continuously cycled between the planet and the atmosphere

small solid particles and liquid droplets in the air

the lowest of the four temperature layers. Where the vast majority of weather events occur and is marked by a general pattern in which temperature decreases with height. Contains 80% of the atmosphere's mass.

level at which temperature ceases to decrease with height and is the transition zone at the top of the troposphere

where temperature increases with height. significant because it inhibits upward motion and thereby allows high concentrations of pollutants to be confined to the lowest parts of the atmosphere.

second layer of atmosphere right above the troposphere. Little weather occurs here other than the occasional thunderstorm in the lower part of it. Contains the ozone layer

a zone of increased ozone concentration at altetudes between 20 and 30 kilometers. Not composed primarilly of ozone. Responsible for absorbing the solar energy that warms the stratosphere and it also protects life on Earth from the lethal efects of the ultraviolet radiation.

third layer of atmosphere. very large. temperature decreases in altitude maybe because of the absorption of solar radiation near the base of the mesosphere which provides head

fourth layer of the atmosphere, above the mesosphere. Temperature increases with atlitude to values in excess of 1500 .

additional layer of the atmosphere. extends from the upper mesosphere into the thermosphere contains large numbers of electrically charged particles called ions. Ions are formed when electrically neutral atoms or molecules lose one or more electrons and become positively charged ions or gain one or more electrons and become negatively charged ions. Reflects AM radio waveds back toward earth.

lines plotted on a map that show atmospheric pressure

unit for pressure. abreviated with mb. Generally used in Canada.

unit of measure for pressure used in Canada. kPa

expression of the amount of water vapor in the air.

region within 80 km of the earths surface. The homosphere is virtually the entire atmosphere

where lighter gases such as hydrogen and helium become increasingly dominant with increasing altitude. Because the composition varies with altitude, the heterosphere contains no truly permanent gases.