Research Rack: Glossary

absorbed - to take in and not reflect

aerosol - tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere

air pressure - the weight of the Earth's atmosphere pressing down on the Earth's surface (or any other surface)

atmosphere - thin blanket of air surrounding the Earth, containing gases (oxygen, nitrogen, and trace gases), solids, and liquids that affect the Earth's climate

atmospheric scientist - a scientist who studies the Earth's atmosphere and the ways it affects the environment

carbon dioxide (CO₂) - a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas

electromagnetic spectrum - forms of electromagnetic radiation that include radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays

frequency - the number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given unit of time

geologist - a scientist who studies the origin, physical nature, structure, and history of the Earth

incident ray - a ray of light that strikes an object

light - a form of energy called radiant energy that travels freely through space

meteorologist - a scientist who studies the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena, including the weather and the global dynamics of climate

nanometer - one billionth of a meter

phenomenon - an unusual or remarkable fact or event

physicist - a scientist who studies the properties and interactions of matter and energy in all their forms (liquid, solid, gas, and plasma)

ray - a straight line that represents the motion of light in one direction

reflect - to bounce off an object

reflection - a change in direction when light strikes and rebounds from a surface or the boundary between two media

refraction - the bending of light as it changes speed when it passes from one material to another

scattering - bouncing of light in another direction when it hits a molecule in the atmosphere

sensor - a detector

stratosphere - A layer of Earth's atmosphere just above the troposphere, extending from about 15 km above Earth to about 50 km. Airplanes travel in this layer and the ozone layer is located here.

sulfur dioxide (SO₂) - a colorless, very irritating gas or liquid

TERRA - Earth Observatory System's space-based instrument that studies the interactions among the Earth's atmosphere, lands, oceans, life, and radiant energy (heat and light)

visible light - light that can be seen by the human eye

visible spectrum - the only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can see, including the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet

wavelength - distance between any two corresponding points on successive waves, usually rest-to-crest or trough-to-trough

wind - horizontal movement of air over the Earth's surface that is created when cool, heavy air moves toward warm, light air