atmosphere
Earth's air, which is made up of a thin layer of gases, solids, and liquids, forms a protective layer around the planet and is divided into five distinct layers.
chlorofluorocarbons
groups of chemical compounds used in refrigerators, air conditioners, foam packaging, and aerosol sprays that may enter the atmosphere and destroy ozone.
condensation
process in which water vapor changes to a liquid.
conduction
transfer of energy that occurs when molecules bump into each other.
convection
transfer of heat by the flow of material.
Coriolis effect
causes moving air and water to turn left in the southern hemisphere and turn right in the northern hemisphere due to Earth's rotation.
hydrosphere
all the water on Earth's surface.
ionosphere
layer of electrically charged particles in the thermosphere that absorbs AM radio waves during the day and reflects them back at night.
jet stream
narrow belt of strong winds that blows near the top of the troposphere.
land breeze
movement of air from land to sea at night, created when cooler, denser air from the land forces up warmer air over the sea.
ozone layer
layer of the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone; absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
radiation
energy transferred by waves or rays.
sea breeze
movement of air from sea to land during the day when cooler air from above the water moves over land, forcing the heated, less dense air above the land to rise.
troposphere
layer of Earth's atmosphere that is closest to the ground, contains 99% of the water vapor and 75% of the atmospheric gases, and is where clouds and weather occur.
ultraviolet radiation
a type of energy that comes to Earth from the Sun, can damage skin and cause cancer, and is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer.