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Energy in the Atmosphere Energy from the sun travels to Earth as electromagnetic waves – mostly visible light, infrared radiation (longer wavelengths) and ultraviolet radiation (shorter wavelengths) When Earth’s surface is heated, it radiates some of the energy back into the atmosphere in the form of longer-wavelength radiation Energy in the Atmosphere Electromagnetic waves Radiation the direct transfer of energy through empty space by electromagnetic waves Scattering a form of energy that can travel through space reflection of light in all directions Greenhouse effect the process by which heat is trapped in the atmosphere by water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases that form a “blanket” around the Earth Heat Transfer Temperature of the air is typically measured with a thermometer Three forms of heat transfer – radiation, conduction, and convection – work together to heat the troposphere Heat Transfer Thermal energy Temperature The movement of thermal energy from one substance to another Conduction The average amount of energy of motion in the molecules of a substance Heat The total energy of a substance’s particles due to their movement or vibration The transfer of heat by movements of a fluid (liquids and gases) Convection The transfer of heat by movement of currents within a fluid (liquids and gases) Winds All winds are caused by differences in air pressure, which are the result of unequal heating of Earth’s surface Local winds are caused by unequal heating of Earth’s surface within a small area The movement of air between the equator and the poles produces global winds Winds Wind Anemometer Increased cooling caused by the wind Sea breeze An instrument used to measure wind speed Wind-chill factor The horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure The flow of air from an ocean or lake to the land Land breeze The flow of air from land to a body of water Winds Monsoon Coriolis effect The way Earth’s rotation makes winds in the Northern Hemisphere curve to the right and winds in the Southern Hemisphere curve to the left Latitude Sea and land breezes over a large region that change directions with the seasons The distance north or south from the equator, measured in degrees Jet stream Bands of high-speed winds about 10 km above the Earth’s surface Water in the Atmosphere Relative humidity is the percentage of water vapor in the air compared to the amount of water vapor the air could hold. It can be measured with a psychrometer. Clouds of all kinds form when water vapor in the air becomes liquid water or solid ice. Meteorologists classify clouds into three main types: cumulus, stratus and cirrus. Water in the Atmosphere Evaporation Humidity A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air Relative humidity The process that occurs when vaporization takes place only on the surface of a liquid The percentage of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount the air can hold at that temperature Psychrometer An instrument used to measure relative humidity, consisting of a wet- and dry-bulb thermometer Water in the Atmosphere Condensation Dew point Clouds that form less than 2 km above the ground and look like fluffy, rounded piles of cotton Stratus The temperature at which condensation begins Cumulus The process by which a gas (water vapor) changes to a liquid (water) Clouds that form in flat layers Cirrus Wispy, feathery clouds made of mostly ice crystals that form at high levels, above about 6 km Precipitation Common types of precipitation include rain, sleet, freezing rain, hail and snow. Rain is measured with a rain gauge. Scientists have used cloud seeding to produce rain and to clear fog from airports. Precipitation Precipitation Rain gauge Forms of water such as rain, snow, sleet or hail that fall from clouds and reach Earth’s surface An instrument used to measure the amount of precipitation, consisting of an open-ended container topped by a collecting funnel and having a collecting tube and measuring scale inside Drought A water shortage caused by long periods of low precipitation in a particular area