Meteorology Vocabulary

1. Relative Humidity: The % of water vapor the air is holding compared to how much it can hold.Relative Humidity 2. Water Vapor: Water that is held in the air in a gaseous state.Water Vapor 3. Dew Point: The temperature that water in the air condenses and becomes liquid.Dew Point

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 CO 2 trap heat. This is why Venus is hotter than Mercury.Greenhouse Effect

5. Fossil Fuel: Gasoline, Oil, & Natural Gas. We burn these for energy. They come from prehistoric organisms. (Animals & Plants)Fossil Fuel

6. Convection: The transfer of heat by the fluid movement of air or water.Convection 7. Radiation: The transfer of heat by waves.Radiation 8. Conduction: The transfer of heat by direct contact.Conduction

9. Atmospheric Absorption: Smaller molecules (oxygen & Nitrogen) absorb short wavelengths of solar radiation. Larger molecules (water vapor & carbon dioxide) absorb longer wavelengths.Atmospheric Absorption

10. Photosynthesis: Plants convert CO 2 + H 2 O into Oxygen + Sugar. 6CO H 2 O = C 6 H 12 O 6 (Sugar) + 6O 2 (Oxygen)Photosynthesis

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 evaporationENSO

14. Ozone: A gas made of 3 oxygen atoms. In the Stratosphere, it absorbs Ultraviolet Radiation. In the Troposphere, it is pollution. O 3 = Ozone

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.Temperature Inversion

16. Renewable Resource A resource that will never run out or can be replenished over a short time.