Unit 5 - Atmosphere

Front 1

Atmosphere

Back 1

The thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth

Front 2

Air Pressure

Back 2

The force exerted by the gases in air pushing on an object; greatest at Earth's surface and decreases as you move further away

Front 3

Altitude

Back 3

The distance above sea level; also called elevation

Front 4

Troposphere

Back 4

Bottom layer of the atmosphere where weather takes place

Front 5

Stratosphere

Back 5

2nd layer of the atmosphere where the ozone layer is located

Front 6

Ozone

Back 6

A form of oxygen that forms a layer in the top of the stratosphere that protects the Earth from too much radiation from the sun; acts as a greenhouse gas when found in the troposphere

Front 7

Mesosphere

Back 7

Middle layer of the atmosphere where meteoroids burn up

Front 8

Thermosphere

Back 8

4th layer of the atmosphere where the Northern lights are located

Front 9

Exosphere

Back 9

Outer layer of the atmosphere where satellites orbit the Earth

Front 10

Greenhouse Gases

Back 10

A gas that absorbs heat and traps it within Earth's atmosphere; examples are carbon dioxide and methane

Front 11

Greenhouse Effect

Back 11

When the solar energy absorbed by Earth's surface is changed to heat and rises, but is then absorbed by gases and becomes trapped in Earth's atmosphere

Front 12

Water Cycle

Back 12

The continuous movement of water between the atmosphere and Earth's surface

Front 13

Evaporation

Back 13

When liquid water is heated and rises into the air as water vapor

Front 14

Transpiration

Back 14

When water vapor is released from the stomata in plant leaves

Front 15

Condensation

Back 15

When water vapor cools and turns into tiny liquid droplets that form clouds

Front 16

Crystallization

Back 16

When water vapor cools and turns into ice crystals that form clouds

Front 17

Cloud

Back 17

A mass of tiny, liquid or solid water droplets suspended in the air; formed during the condensation stage of the water cycle

Front 18

Dew

Back 18

Forms when water vapor condenses directly onto a surface

Front 19

Frost

Back 19

Forms when the temperatures are at or below freezing and water vapor changes from a gas to ice crystals on a surface

Front 20

Precipitation

Back 20

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface

Front 21

Surface Water Flow

Back 21

Water flowing downhill across the top of Earth's surface because the ground is not porous or there is too much water to soak in

Front 22

Groundwater Flow

Back 22

Water sinking into the ground and flowing downhill because the ground is porous and has lots of space to hold water

Front 23

Carbon Dioxide

Back 23

The most produced greenhouse gas by humans; produced by decaying and living organisms, the ash in volcanic eruptions, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation

Front 24

Methane

Back 24

A greenhouse gas that is released from wetlands, growing rice, raising cattle, using natural gas, and mining coal

Front 25

Water Vapor

Back 25

Water in the form of a gas that acts as a greenhouse gas

Front 26

Nitrous Oxide

Back 26

A greenhouse gas made by bacteria in the soil and ocean; it is also released by some types of factories, power plants, and fertilizers

Front 27

Chlorofluorocarbons

Back 27

A man-made greenhouse gas produced by using aerosol cans and through leakage from refrigerants; also called CFC's

Front 28

Cumulus

Back 28

Large, thick, puffy white clouds that are found at low and medium elevations and indicate fair weather

Front 29

Stratus

Back 29

Spread out layer on layer, flat gray clouds that are found at low and medium elevations and indicate steady rain

Front 30

Cirrus

Back 30

Thin, wispy clouds made mostly of ice crystals that are found at high elevations and indicate fair weather or approaching warm fronts

Front 31

Fog

Back 31

A type of stratus cloud that forms at ground level

Front 32

Cumulonimbus

Back 32

Tall, towering cloud that often brings thunderstorms

Front 33

-Nimbus/Nimbo-

Back 33

Used in the names of clouds that produce precipitation; means "rain"

Front 34

Alto-

Back 34

Used in the names of clouds that are found at medium elevations