Earth's Atmosphere

Air pollution

The release of harmful materials into the atmosphere by human and natural activity. Air pollution. Air pollution is when harmful substances like gases, smoke, or chemicals are added to the air we breathe, making it dirty and unsafe.

Air pressure

The weight of the air pressing down on a surface. Air pressure. Air pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air molecules pressing down on Earth.

Anemometer

An instrument that measures wind speed. Anemometer. An anemometer is a device used to measure how fast the wind is blowing.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases that surround the Earth. atmosphere. The atmosphere is the blanket of air that keeps our planet warm and protects us from harmful solar radiation.

Barometer

An instrument that measures air pressure. Barometer. A barometer is a device that helps us understand weather by measuring the pressure of the air.

Conduction

The transfer of heat energy between two objects through direct contact. Conduction is when heat moves through a material or from one object to another by touching directly.

Convection

The transfer of heat energy from a warmer area to a cooler area in a liquid or gas. Convection. Convection is when warmer, less dense liquid or gas rises and cooler, denser liquid or gas sinks, creating a cycle of heat transfer.

Convection current

The movement pattern in a fluid caused by temperature differences within the fluid. Convection current. It's the circular motion of fluid, like water or air, caused by warmer, less dense areas rising and cooler, denser areas sinking.

Coriolis effect

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and current Coriolis effect. The Coriolis effect causes moving air and water to turn and twist around the Earth, affecting weather patterns and ocean currents.

Density

An object's mass per unit volume. Density. Density is how much stuff is packed into a certain amount of space.

Electromagnetic wave

A wave of electric and magnetic energy that can travel through matter or a vacuum, like X-rays. Electromagnetic waves are invisible waves of energy that include light, radio, and X-rays traveling through space.

Exosphere

The outermost layer of the atmosphere. Exosphere. The exosphere is the thin, outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere where air molecules are very sparse and can escape into space.

Greenhouse effect

The warming of the Earth when the atmosphere traps heat like a blanket. Greenhouse effect. It is when gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warmer.

Heat

The thermal energy transferred from a warmer object to a cooler object. Heat. Heat is the energy that moves from something warm to something cooler.

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth. Hydrosphere. The hydrosphere is the combined mass of all the water found on, under, and over the surface of the Earth.

Infrared radiation

Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths longer than that of red light. Infrared radiation. Infrared radiation is a type of light energy we cannot see, but we feel as heat.

Ionosphere

A layer of electrically charged particles in the thermosphere. Ionosphere. The ionosphere is a part of Earth's atmosphere that contains charged particles and reflects radio waves, allowing for long-distance communication.

Jet stream

A band of high-speed wind between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Jet stream. Jet streams are fast-flowing air currents in the atmosphere that influence weather and climate patterns.

Land breeze

The flow of air from land to the sea, in the nighttime. Land breeze. A land breeze is a nighttime wind that blows from the cooler land to the warmer sea.

Mesosphere

The layer of Earths atmosphere above the stratosphere but below the thermosphere. Mesosphere. The mesosphere is a layer where meteors burn up, creating shooting stars visible from Earth.

Ozone

A molecule composed of three oxygen atoms, it blocks UV rays. Ozone is a gas in the Earth's atmosphere that protects us by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Radiation

The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves, it does not require matter. Radiation is the movement of energy through space without needing a medium.

Sea breeze

The flow of air from the sea to land, in the daytime. Sea breeze. A sea breeze is a cool wind blowing from the sea to the land that occurs during the day when the land heats up faster than the water.

Smog

Gray-brown air pollution made up of chemicals. Smog. Smog is a type of air pollution caused by the interaction of sunlight with pollutants from vehicles and industries.

Stratosphere

The second lowest layer of the atmosphere, it extends 15 to 50 km above Earth. Stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful sun radiation.

Temperature

How hot or cold something is, it is determined by the kinetic energy of its particles. Temperature is a measure of how fast the particles in an object are moving.

Thermometer

An instrument that measures temperature. Thermometer. A thermometer is a device used to measure how hot or cold something is.

Thermosphere

The uppermost layer of Earths atmosphere. Thermosphere. The thermosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere where temperatures can get very high due to the absorption of solar radiation.

Troposphere

The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earths surface. Troposphere. The troposphere is where all our weather happens and is the lowest part of the atmosphere.

Ultraviolet radiation

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, it tans skin and can cause cancer. Ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is a type of light from the sun that is invisible to the eye and can cause skin damage.

Wind

Air movement caused by pressure differences. Wind. Wind is the movement of air from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas.