MEA 130– NCSU STUDY GUIDE
air - Answers :a mixture of many discrete gases, of which nitrogen and oxygen are most
abundant, in which varying quantities of tiny solid and liquid particles are suspended
atmosphere - Answers :The gaseous portion of a planet, the planet's envelope of air;
one of the traditional subdivisions of Earth's physical environment
climate - Answers :a description of aggregate weather conditions; the sum of all
statistical weather information that helps describe a place or region
elements of weather and climate - Answers :those quantities or properties of the
atmosphere that are measured regularly and that are used to express the nature of
weather and climate
environmental lapse rate - Answers :the rate of temperature decrease with the height of
the troposphere
hydrosphere - Answers :the water portion of our planet; one of the traditional sub-
divisions of earth's physical environment
meteorology - Answers :the scientific study of the atmosphere and atmospheric
phenomena; the study of weather and climate
ozone - Answers :a molecule of oxygen containing 3 oxygen atoms
radiosonde - Answers :a lightweight package of weather instruments fitted with a radio
transmitter and carried aloft by a balloon
stratosphere - Answers :the zone of the atmosphere above the troposphere
characterized at first by isothermal conditions and then a gradual temperature increase.
earth's ozone is concentrated here
thermosphere - Answers :the zone of the atmosphere beyond the mesosphere in which
there is a rapid rise in temperature with height
tropopause - Answers :the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere
troposphere - Answers :the lowermost layer of the atmosphere marked by considerable
turbulence and, in general a decrease in temperature with increasing height; air is
mixed very well
weather - Answers :the state of the atmosphere at any given time
air - Answers :a mixture of many discrete gases, of which nitrogen and oxygen are most
abundant, in which varying quantities of tiny solid and liquid particles are suspended
atmosphere - Answers :The gaseous portion of a planet, the planet's envelope of air;
one of the traditional subdivisions of Earth's physical environment
climate - Answers :a description of aggregate weather conditions; the sum of all
statistical weather information that helps describe a place or region
elements of weather and climate - Answers :those quantities or properties of the
atmosphere that are measured regularly and that are used to express the nature of
weather and climate
environmental lapse rate - Answers :the rate of temperature decrease with the height of
the troposphere
hydrosphere - Answers :the water portion of our planet; one of the traditional sub-
divisions of earth's physical environment
meteorology - Answers :the scientific study of the atmosphere and atmospheric
phenomena; the study of weather and climate
ozone - Answers :a molecule of oxygen containing 3 oxygen atoms
radiosonde - Answers :a lightweight package of weather instruments fitted with a radio
transmitter and carried aloft by a balloon
stratosphere - Answers :the zone of the atmosphere above the troposphere
characterized at first by isothermal conditions and then a gradual temperature increase.
earth's ozone is concentrated here
thermosphere - Answers :the zone of the atmosphere beyond the mesosphere in which
there is a rapid rise in temperature with height
tropopause - Answers :the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere
troposphere - Answers :the lowermost layer of the atmosphere marked by considerable
turbulence and, in general a decrease in temperature with increasing height; air is
mixed very well
weather - Answers :the state of the atmosphere at any given time
