The Atmosphere

Unit Review Sheet

Facts and Definitions

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Atmosphere

• The layers of the atmosphere are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.
• The atmosphere is primarily made up of the following four gases: oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon.
• Ozone is a different form of oxygen that is made up of three oxygen atoms (O₃) bonded together.
• Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of air above. It is also known as air pressure.
• Temperature is a property of matter that is commonly used to express degrees of warmth or coolness.

Lesson 2: Atmospheric Pressure

• Matter: The substance of which all physical objects consist; anything that has mass and takes up space.
• Variable: A characteristic that can be changed by increasing or decreasing.
• Changes in air pressure can lead to various weather phenomena in the atmosphere. Low-pressure systems often bring storms and precipitation, while high-pressure systems are usually associated with clear skies and calm weather.

Lesson 3: Circulation in the Atmosphere

• A convection cell is a cycle of rising and sinking air caused by differences in temperature and density within the atmosphere.
• An air current is a flow of air moving from one region to another, often caused by temperature differences, pressure changes, or Earth's rotation, and can occur at various altitudes in the atmosphere.
• Air masses are large bodies of air with uniform temperature and humidity, and as they travel across the globe, they often cause significant changes in weather. These movements occur due to the pressure differences between air masses.
• Winds are horizontal movements of air parallel to the Earth's surface and are described by their speed and direction.
• Coriolis effect is the apparent deflection of moving air (or any moving object) caused by Earth's rotation, making winds curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Lesson 4: Energy in the Atmosphere

• Transverse Waves: These are waves where the motion of the particles is perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling. In the atmosphere, electromagnetic waves like light are transverse waves.
• Amplitude: The height of a wave from its middle to its peak (or trough). In weather, higher amplitude waves mean more energy, like stronger sunlight or more intense weather patterns.
• Frequency: This refers to how many waves pass a point in a given amount of time. In the atmosphere, higher frequency waves (like ultraviolet light) carry more energy than lower frequency waves (like infrared light).
• Insolation: This is the amount of solar radiation that reaches Earth's surface. It varies by location and time, affecting temperature and climate.
• Greenhouse Effect: The process where gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun, keeping the planet warm enough to support life. This is essential for maintaining Earth's climate, but too much of this effect can lead to global warming.
• Conduction: The transfer of heat through direct contact between materials. In the atmosphere, conduction occurs when the Earth's surface heats the air directly above it.
• Convection: This is the movement of heat through fluids (like air or water) caused by temperature differences. Warm air rises and cool air sinks, creating currents that help distribute heat in the atmosphere.
• Radiation: The transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves, like sunlight. Radiation from the sun is the primary source of energy for Earth's weather and climate systems.

Lesson 5: Atmospheric Conditions

• Humidity: the amount of water vapor in the air
• Condensation: the change in state of water from a gaseous form to a liquid form
• Wind speed: the rate of flow of parts of the atmosphere
• Precipitation: the product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls due to gravity
• Gradient: the rate of change of a value (increase or decrease) from one reference point to another (such as a pressure gradient, a change in the atmospheric pressure from one location to the next)
• Coriolis effect: a condition where the rotation of the Earth causes moving air and water to turn left in the southern hemisphere and turn right in the northern hemisphere
• Air mass: a large body of air that has properties similar to the part of the Earth over which the mass develops
• Front: a boundary between two air masses
• Air pressure is another term for atmospheric pressure, which is the measure of force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of air above that surface.
• Water Cycle: the continuous process where water moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back again, through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Lesson 6: Storms in the Atmosphere

• Thunderstorm: a form of weather identified by the presence of lightning and thunder; it is accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain and sometimes hail
• When warm air near the Earth's surface rises and cooler air sinks, it creates a circulation pattern known as a convection cell
• Barometric pressure: the measure of atmospheric pressure (air pressure), measured in bars
• Bar: a unit of pressure roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level
• Wind shear: a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance; also called wind gradient
• A cyclone is referred to by names such as hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, or tropical depression depending on the location and the strength of the winds present.

Lesson 7: Atmospheric Interactions and Climate

• climate: the long-term weather patterns of a geographic region
• El Niño: an instability of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures
• Human activities, such as deforestation, are major factors in the current rise in the Earth's mean surface temperature.

Lesson 8: Technology and Weather

• Meteorology: the scientific study of weather and the atmosphere
• Doppler radar: radar that makes use of the Doppler effect to produce velocity data about objects
• Doppler effect: the change in frequency (the number of times a wave passes a given point of reference) of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave
• Meteorologist: person who studies the weather by taking measurements of atmospheric variables
• Station model: data about Earth's surface that is placed on a map
• Isotherm: an area where temperatures are the same (iso = same or equal; therm = temperature)
• Isobar: a line drawn to connect points of equal atmospheric pressure (bar = barometric pressure)
• Probabilistically means making a prediction based on probability or likelihood rather than certainty. In weather forecasting, this means meteorologists use data from past weather patterns and current observations to make educated guesses about future weather.

Lesson 9: Air, Life, and Human Impact

• Particulate: tiny pieces of solid matter suspended ("floating") in a gas or liquid
• Ozone layer: a layer of ozone that serves to protect the Earth from harmful electromagnetic radiation from the Sun
• Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth's mean surface temperature (global warming).

Lesson 10: Stewardship

• Toxic air pollutant: substance released into the air that could cause health problems, including cancer and respiratory illnesses
• Carbon footprint: the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are the results of activities by an organization, event, product, or person
• Emission: a substance discharged into the air
• Carbon offset: a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset an emission made elsewhere
• Sustainable: capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment
• Stewardship:our shared responsibility to care for our environment

Final Project: Atmosphere Escape Room Challenge

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