4.2 vocab

• troposphere

  layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's atmosphere

  • weather occurs here
• stratosphere

  2nd layer of atmosphere

  • ozone layer
• ozone

  absorbs most of the Sun's UV rays (B and C), providing critical protection to our planet
• UV radiation

  released by the Sun; can cause DNA damage (cancer) in animals
• Mesosphere

  coldest layer of the atmosphere
• thermosphere

  hottest layer of the atmosphere
• Albedo

  percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface
• insolation

  incoming solar radiation
• saturation point


  maximum amount of water vapor that can be in the air at a given temperature
• adiabatic cooling 


  the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands
• adiabatic heating


  the heating effect of increased pressure on aure as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decrease in volume
• atmospheric convention currents


  global patterns of air movement that are initiated by unequal heating of the Earth
• latent heat release


  the release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water; air becomes warmer and rises in the atmosphere
• Hadley cells


  convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30 degrees north and south
• polar cells


  convection currents in the atmosphere formed by air that rises at 60 degree N and 60 degrees S at the poles and sinks ar the poles 90 degrees N and 90 degrees S
• Ferrell cells


  a convention cell in the atmosphere that lies between hadley and polar cells
• interpolar convergence zone (ITCZ)


  The latitude that receives the most sunlight and causes the ascending branches of the 2 Hadley cells to converge

  • typified by dense clouds and intense thunderstorm activity because of humid air rising
• rain shadow


  a region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side
• gyres


  large-scale patterns of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
• upwelling


  the upward movement of ocean water towards the surface as a result of diverging currents
• thermohaline circulation


  ocean circulation pattern that is crucial for moving heat/nutrients around the globe

  • drives the mixing of surface + deep water
• El Nino 


  a reversal of wind/water currents in the South Pacific

  • winds blow from west to east
  • warm equatorial currents bring heat and precipitation to N+S Americas
  • suppressed upwelling of S. American coast
  • Cooler, drier conditions in Australia and SE Asia
  • Low pressure in South America
• La Nina

  strengthing trade winds; undoes El Nino

  • wind blows stronger than normal from west to east
  • increased upwelling off the S. American coast
  • cooler than normal climate in S. America
  • Warmer and rainier than normal in Australia