Climate and Atmosphere Vocabulary

• A powerful greenhouse gas released from sources like livestock, landfills, and natural gas.
• Greenhouse effect
• A gas form of water in the atmosphere; it is the most abundant greenhouse gas.
• The process of taking in heat energy from the Sun or surroundings.
• The natural process where certain gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warm enough to support life.
• Absorption of heat
• A greenhouse gas released by respiration, burning fossil fuels, and volcanic activity.

• Human-made gases used as replacements for CFCs; they do not harm ozone but are strong greenhouse gases.
• A greenhouse gas produced by fertilizers, industrial processes, and burning fuels.
• Emissions
• Gases and particles released into the air, often from human activities like burning fossil fuels.
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
• A gas made of three oxygen atoms; in the upper atmosphere it protects Earth from harmful UV radiation, but near the surface it can be harmful.
• Man-made gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning that can damage the ozone layer and trap heat.
• Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

Match each term to its correct definition. Terms: 1. Albedo effect 2. Urban heat island 3. Jet stream 4. Air mass 5. Trade winds / Easterlies

• The measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects; light surfaces reflect more, dark surfaces absorb more.
• Albedo effect
• A city area that is significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to buildings, roads, and human activities.
• Air mass
• Winds that blow from east to west near the equator.
• Trade winds / Easterlies
• A large body of air with similar temperature and humidity characteristics.
• Jet stream
• A fast-moving ribbon of air high in the atmosphere that influences weather patterns.
• Urban heat island

Match each term to its correct definition. Terms: 1. Westerlies 2. El Nio 3. La Nia 4. Equator

• Winds that blow from west to east in the mid-latitudes.
• Equator
• An imaginary line around Earth’s middle that divides it into the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
• La Nia
• A climate pattern where the Pacific Ocean near the equator becomes cooler than usual, also affecting global weather.
• El Nio
• A climate pattern where the Pacific Ocean near the equator becomes warmer than usual, affecting global weather.
• Westerlies

What are the northernmost and southernmost points on Earth (North Pole and South Pole) called?

(a)  

Match each type of air mass with its description.

• Hot, dry air mass formed over land in tropical areas
• Maritime Polar (mP)
• Extremely cold, very dry air mass formed over Arctic regions
• Continental Tropical (cT)
• Cool, moist air mass formed over cold oceans
• Continental Arctic (cA)
• Cold, dry air mass formed over land in high latitudes
• Continental Polar (cP)
• Warm, humid air mass formed over tropical oceans
• Maritime Tropical (mT)

Describe Hadley Cells.