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A B C
D E F G H I J K L M N O P
Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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A
.::aerosols
- finely divided solid or liquid particles dispersed in the atmosphere.
.::Arctic haze
- The pollution of the Arctic atmosphere, mainly in winter, by aerosols
such as dust, soot and sulfate particles originating in Eurasia.
.::atmosphere
- The blanket of air which envelops the solid earth. It extends to a height
of 560 km above the surface of Earth, and consists of a mixture of aerosols
and gases.
.::atmospheric
circulation - The large scale movement of air around and above
the earth, associated with complex but distinct patterns of pressure systems
and wind belts.
.::atmospheric
turbidity - A measure of the dustiness or dirtiness of the atmosphere
as indicated by the reduction in solar radiation passing through it.
B
.::biosphere - The
zone of terrestrial life including the earth's surface plus the lowest
part of the atmosphere and the upper part of the soil layer.
C
.::carbon dioxide
- One of the variable gases, currently making up a small percent of the
atmosphere by volume, but growing. It is important to life on earth because
of its participation in photosynthesis and its contribution to the greenhouse
effect; carbon dioxide absorbs infrared radiation.
E
.::energy budget -
The relationship between the amount of solar energy entering the earth's
atmosphere and the amount of terrestrial energy leaving. In theory, these
energy fluxes should balance; in practice it applies only in general terms
to the earth as a whole, over an extended time period. It is not applicable
to any specific area over a short period of time.
G
.::greenhouse effect
- The name given to the ability of the atmosphere to be selective in its
response to different types of radiation. Incoming short-wave solar radiation
is transmitted unaltered to heat the earth's surface. Some of the returning
long-wave terrestrial radiation is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere.
This causes the temperature of the atmosphere to rise. Some of the energy
absorbed is returned to the earth's surface, and the net effect is to
maintain the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere system higher
than it would be without the greenhouse effect. The process has been compared
to the way a greenhouse works, allowing sunlight in, but trapping the
long-wave radiation inside.
P
.::particulate matter
- a collective name for all forms of material added to the atmosphere
by processes at the earth's surface.
R
.::radiation scattering
- the disruption of the smooth flow of radiation through the atmosphere,
usually as a result of molecules and particulate matter in the energy
path.
.::remote sensing
- Obtaining information about a subject without being in contact with
it. This term is commonly used in conjunction with electromagnetic techniques
for acquiring information; that is, techniques which image part of the
electromagnetic spectrum (i.e., visible light, infrared energy (heat),
X-rays, ultraviolet light, etc.); Aerial photography of the earth was
the earliest form of remote sensing, but satellite observation is now
most common involving the creation of photographic images or the collection
of data in digital form.
S
.::satellite - a free-flying
object that orbits the Earth, another planet, or the Sun.
.::solar radiation
- the radiant energy given off by the sun. Since the sun is a very hot
body, the bulk of the radiation is high energy at ultraviolet and visible
light wavelengths.
U
.::ultraviolet radiation
- High energy, short-wave radiation. Much of the ultraviolet radiation
that comes from the sun is absorbed by the ozone layer in the stratosphere.
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