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GLOSSARY

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

A
Aeronomy - aer*on*o*my \a(e)r-'an-o-me\n [fr. Gk aero-] a branch of science that deals with the atmosphere of the Earth and the other planets with reference to their chemical composition, physical properties, relative motion, and responses to radiation from space.
Definition from NOAA.

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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Tech Museum: The Satellite Site by Lockheed Martin
www.thetech.org/
exhibits/online/satellite/
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