Transcript Meteorology Vocab

Meteorology
Vocabulary
• 1. Relative Humidity: The % of
water vapor the air is holding
compared to how much it can hold.
• 2. Water Vapor: Water that is
held in the air in a gaseous state.
• 3. Dew Point: The temperature
that water in the air condenses and
becomes liquid.
• Solar Radiation: All the
energy coming from the Sun,
the electromagnetic
spectrum.
• Radioactive Decay: The
spontaneous breaking down
of atoms resulting in a
release of energy.
4. Greenhouse Effect:
Certain gasses like CO2 trap
heat. This is why Venus is
hotter than Mercury.
5. Fossil Fuel: Gasoline, Oil,
& Natural Gas. We burn
these for energy. They come
from prehistoric organisms.
(Animals & Plants)
• 6. Convection: The transfer of
heat by the fluid movement of
air or water.
• 7. Radiation: The transfer of
heat by waves.
• 8. Conduction: The transfer of
heat by direct contact.
9. Atmospheric Absorption:
Smaller molecules (oxygen &
Nitrogen) absorb short
wavelengths of solar
radiation. Larger molecules
(water vapor & carbon
dioxide) absorb longer
wavelengths.
•10. Photosynthesis:
Plants convert CO2 +
H2O into Oxygen +
Sugar. 6CO2 + 6 H2O
= C6H12O6 (Sugar) +
6O2 (Oxygen)
•11. Weather: The
condition of the
atmosphere at the present
time.
•12. Climate: The 30 year
average of weather for a
specific place on Earth.
• 13. ENSO (El’ Nino
Southern Oscillation):
Ocean water gets heated up
more then usual, causing
extra evaporation
• 14. Ozone: A gas
made of 3 oxygen
O3 = Ozone
atoms. In the
Stratosphere, it
absorbs Ultraviolet
Radiation. In the
Troposphere, it is
pollution.
• 15. Temperature Inversion:
The air near the ground is
usually warmer. If the air
above us warms(inversion), it
can trap pollutants and cause
bad air days.
16. Renewable Resource
•A resource that will
never run out or
can be replenished
over a short time.