| A | B |
|---|
| atmosphere | a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon |
| air pressure | the measure of the force with which the air molecules push on a surface |
| troposphere | the lowest layer of the earth's atmosphere; most dense layer; air gets colder as you go higher |
| stratosphere | layer of atmosphere above troposphere;air gets warmer as you go higher;contains ozone |
| mesosphere | middle layer of the atmosphere; coldest layer; air gets colder as you go higher |
| thermosphere | uppermost layer of the atmosphere; air gets warmer as you go higher |
| radiation | the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves |
| thermal conduction | the transfer of energy as heat through a material |
| convection | the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas |
| greenhouse effect | warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of the Earth |
| global warming | a gradual increase in average global temperature |
| wind | the movement of air caused by differences in air pressure |
| Coriolis effect | the apparent curving of the path of winds and ocean currents because the Earth is rotating |
| polar easterlies | prevailing winds that blow from from the poles (90 degrees) to 60 degrees latitude |
| westerlies | prevailing winds that blow from W to E between 30 and 60 degrees latitude |
| trade winds | prevailing winds that blow from 30 degrees latitude almost to the equator |
| jet stream | narrow belt of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere |
| air pollution | the contamination of the atmosphere by pollutants from human and natural causes |
| acid precipitation | rain, sleet or snow that contains high concentrations of acids |
