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A
 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.
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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 - Carbon dioxide is 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.
chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) - A group of chemicals containing
chlorine, fluorine, and carbon used in refrigeration and air conditioning
systems and in the production of polymer foams. Inert at surface
temperature and pressure, they become unstable in the stratosphere,
breaking down to release chlorine, which initiates a catalytic chemical
reaction leading to the destruction of ozone.
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.
F
fluorocarbons
- Any various inert organic compounds in which fluorine replaces
hydrogen; used as aerosol propellants, refrigerants, solvents, and
lubricants and in making plastics and resins.
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.
L
laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) - An active instrument that produces discretely
coherent pulses of light (Light waves with no phase differences
or with predictable phase differences are said to be coherent).
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.
