Atmosphere terms

0-17 km above Earth's surface, site of weather, organisms, contains most atmospheric water vapor. (temperature decreases with increasing altitude, pressure decreases);contains 75% of atmospheric gases

12 to 50 km above Earth's surface,: contains ozone layer; absorbs UV ; temperature increases in this layer; weather balloons in this layer

50 to 100 km above Earth's surface; meteors burn up in this layer due to friction; temperature decreases in this layer; coldest layer; very few gas molecules

100-550 km above Earth's surface ; auroras occur here; temperature increases in this layer

> 600 km above the Earth's surface; the outermost region of Earth's atmosphere; some hydrogen and helium; space; satellites found in this region

a gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms

a layer in the stratosphere (at approximately 20 miles) that contains a concentration of ozone sufficient to block most ultraviolet radiation from the sun

energy from the sun that damages DNA structure, increases mutation rate, and causes skin cancer

an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands of light caused by charged solar particles following the earth's magnetic lines of force

the force caused by the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area; decreases with altitude

elevation above sea level

the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere

conversion of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides to acids that return to Earth as rain, snow, or fog; main cause burning fossil fuels especially coal-fired electric plants

natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases

an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere (especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes)

gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect;

group of chemical compounds used in refrigerators, air conditioners, foam packaging, and aerosol sprays that may enter the atmosphere and destroy ozone

amount of Sun's energy that reaches Earth's surface

nitrogen gas makes up this much of Earth's atmosphere

the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves; travels through space

the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas

the direct transfer of heat from one substance to another substance that it is touching; contact