Science Chapter 15 Vocabulary

a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon

the measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface

the lowest layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature decreases at a constant rate as altitude increases

the layer of the atmosphere that is above the troposphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases

the layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere and in which temperature decreases as altitude increases

the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature increases as altitude increases

the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves

the transfer of energy as heat through a material

the movement of matter due to differences in density; the transfer of energy due to the movement of matter

the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and reradiate thermal energy

a gradual increase in average global temperature

the movement of air caused by differences in air pressure

the apparent curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to the Earth's rotaion

prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 degrees and 90 degrees latitude in both hemispheres

prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in both hemisphers

prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30 degrees north latitude to the equator and that blow southeast from 30 degrees south latitude to the equator

a narrow belt of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere

the contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural sources

rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high concentration of acids