1.
mass a large volume of air in the atmosphere that has nearly uniform temperature and moisture (humidity) properties throughout
2.
The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, made up of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon
3.
cycle the continuous, natural movement of carbon atoms among the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, soil, rocks, and living organisms
4.
the long-term pattern of atmospheric conditions—such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind—in a specific region
5.
change a long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns, such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall
6.
front the leading edge of a cooler, denser air mass that advances to replace a warmer air mass at ground level
7.
cycle a continuous loop of fluid motion driven by temperature and density differences
8.
effect the apparent curved path of objects, air currents, or ocean waters caused by the rotation of the Earth beneath them
9.
gas gases in the atmosphere that absorb and re-radiate infrared heat
10.
the total amount of water on a planet, including water on the surface, underground, and in the air
11.
the localized climate of a small-scale area—ranging from a few meters to a few kilometers across—where weather conditions differ from the surrounding regional climate
12.
feedback loop a self-regulating biological or mechanical system in which the output counteracts or reduces the process that caused it, helping the system maintain stability and reach balance
13.
cycle the natural process that moves nitrogen through the air, soil, water, plants, and animals
14.
front a composite weather front that forms when a faster-moving cold front overtakes a slower-moving warm front near a mature low-pressure system (cyclone)
15.
layer a region of Earth's stratosphere—located about 15 to 40 kilometers (10 to 25 miles) above the surface—that contains a high concentration of ozone (O₃) molecules and absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation
16.
the biological process by which green plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy
17.
easterlies dry, cold prevailing winds that blow from high-pressure areas at the North and South Poles toward lower-latitude, low-pressure areas
18.
feedback loop a process in which a system's output amplifies or accelerates the original change, pushing the system further away from its starting state
19.
Excess liquid—such as rain, melted snow, or irrigation water—that the ground or soil cannot absorb.
20.
heat the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius
21.
front a weather boundary where two different air masses (cold and warm) meet, but neither air mass has enough force to push the other out of the way
22.
winds consistent, prevailing winds that blow from east to west across the Earth's equatorial and tropical regions
23.
front the leading edge of an advancing, warmer mass of air that replaces a cooler air mass at the Earth's surface
24.
the short-term state of the Earth's atmosphere at a specific place and time
25.
permanent, prevailing planetary winds that blow from the west toward the east in the middle latitudes (roughly between 30° and 60° latitude) in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
