Vocabulario

1. UNIT 3: THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE. GLOSSARY
Primitive atmosphere. The
atmosphere that existed
thousands of millions of years ago,
made up of water vapour, carbon
dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen,
ammonia, methane and no
oxygen.
Atmosphere. A layer of
gases which envelopes
the Earth.
Troposphere. Layer of the
atmosphere that is nearest to
the Earth’s surface and goes
up to 10-15 km above it. It
contains 75% of the
atmosphere’s mass. All the
meteorological phenomena
happen in it. The
temperature in it decreases
0.65 ºC every 100m.
Stratosphere. Layer of the
atmosphere that lies directly
above the troposphere and is
about 35 km thick. In the upper
portion of this layer the
temperature increases with
altitude because of absorption of
dangerous ultraviolet radiation
from the Sun by ozone.
Mesosphere. Layer of
the atmosphere that is
directly above the
stratosphere, extending
from 50 to 80 km above
the Earth's surface. The
layer is thick enough to
slow down meteors
trying to get into the
atmosphere.
Ionosphere. Layer of the
atmosphere that extends
from 80 km above the
Earth's surface to outer
space. The temperature may
be as high as thousands of
degrees. The aurora occur in
this layer.
Weather. It describes the state of
atmospheric conditions at a
certain place, over a short period
of time.
Humidity. The
concentration of water
vapour in the
atmosphere.
Clouds. Meteorological
phenomena formed when
humidity is condensed
because raising air cools.
There are three basic types:
cirrus, cumulus and stratus.
Precipitation. Meteorological
phenomenon that occurs when
heavy droplets fall to the Earth
surface. It may be in the form of
rain, snow or hail.
Wind. Movement of the
air from high pressure
areas to low pressure
areas.
Climate. It describes the
characteristic pattern of
weather in an area over a
long period of time.
Latitude. How far north or south a
place is from the Equator.
Altitude. The height
above sea level.
Meteorology. It is the
science that studies different
atmospheric variables to
make weather predictions.
Thermometer. The instrument
used to measure temperature.
Barometer. The
instrument used to
measure pressure.
Rain gauge. The instrument
used to measure the amount
of rainfall.
Hygrometer. The instrument used
to measure humidity.
Anemometer. The
instrument used to
measure wind speed.
Weather vane. It shows the
direction the wind is coming
from.
Pollution. The release of harmful
substances into the atmosphere.
Global warming. It
refers to the increase of
the temperature of the
Earth’s atmosphere over
the last century.
Acid rain. Harmful rain
acidified by pollutants that
damage buildings and living
things.
Ozone depletion. The destruction
of ozone in the stratosphere by
CFCs. It may make easier the
entrance of harmful ultraviolet
radiation through the atmosphere.
Greenhouse effect.
Natural phenomenon
that keeps the
temperatures on Earth
suitable for life through
the absorption of
reflected heat by CO2.
Isobars. Lines that connect
points with the same
atmospheric pressure.

2. UNIT 8. THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE. GLOSSARY
Weather vane It shows the
direction the wind is coming from.
Weather. It describes
the state of atmospheric
conditions at a certain
place, over a short
period of time.
Wind. Movement of the air
from high pressure areas to
low pressure areas.
Stratosphere. Layer of the
atmosphere that lies directly
above the troposphere and is
about 35 km thick. In the upper
portion of this layer the
temperature increases with
altitude because of the absorption
of dangerous ultraviolet radiation
from the Sun by ozone.
Clouds. Meteorological
phenomena formed
when humidity is
condensed because
raising air cools. There
are three basic types:
cirrus, cumulus and
stratus.
Ionosphere. Layer of the
atmosphere that extends
from 80 km above the
Earth's surface to outer
space. The temperature may
be as high as thousands of
degrees. The aurora occur in
this layer.
Ozone depletion The
destruction of ozone in the
stratosphere by CFCs. It may
make easier the entrance of
harmful ultraviolet radiation
through the atmosphere.
Greenhouse effect
Natural phenomenon
that keeps the
temperatures on Earth
suitable for life through
the absorption of
reflected heat by CO2.
Mesosphere. Layer of the
atmosphere that is directly
above the stratosphere,
extending from 50 to 80 km
above the Earth's surface.
The layer is thick enough to
slow down meteors trying to
get into the atmosphere.
Precipitation. Meteorological
phenomenon that occurs when
heavy droplets fall to the Earth’s
surface. It may be in the form of
rain, snow or hail.
Meteorology. It is the
science that studies
different atmospheric
variables to make
weather predictions.
Isobars. Lines that connect
points with the same
atmospheric pressure.
Latitude. How far north or south
a place is from the Equator.
Climate. It describes
the characteristic pattern
of weather in an area
over a long period of
time.
Hygrometer. The
instrument used to measure
humidity.
Troposphere. Layer of the
atmosphere that is nearest to the
Earth’s surface and goes up to 10-
15 km above it. It contains 75% of
the atmosphere’s mass. All the
meteorological phenomena
happen in it. The temperature in it
decreases 0.65 ºC every 100m.
Thermometer. The
instrument used to
measure temperature.
Primitive atmosphere
The atmosphere that existed
thousands of millions of
years ago, made up of water
vapour, carbon dioxide,
nitrogen, hydrogen,
ammonia, methane and no
oxygen.
Pollution. The release of harmful
substances into the atmosphere.
Anemometer. The
instrument used to
measure wind speed.
Global warming. It refers
to the increase of the
temperature of the Earth’s
atmosphere over the last
century.
Humidity. The concentration of
water vapour in the atmosphere.
Altitude. The height
above sea level.
Acid rain Harmful rain
acidified by pollutants that
damage buildings and living
things.
Rain gauge. The instrument
used to measure the amount of
rainfall.
Atmosphere. A layer
of gases which
envelopes the Earth.
Barometer. The instrument
used to measure pressure.