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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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