Atmosphere

27. Atmosphere

See also 85. CLIMATE ; 87. CLOUDS ; 142. ENVIRONMENT ; 417. WEATHER ; 420. WIND .

advection

the horizontal movement of elements of the atmosphere. Cf. convection . —advective, adj.

aerodynamics

the branch of dynamics that studies the motions of air and other gases, especially with regard to bodies in motion in these substances. See also 31. AVIATION . —aerodynamic, aerodynamical, adj.

aerographics, aerography

the branch of meteorology that studies and describes atmospheric conditions. —aerographer, n. —aerographic, aerographical, adj.

aerology

1. Obsolete, the branch of meteorology that observed the atmosphere by using balloons, airplanes, etc.

2. meteorology. —aerologist, n. —aerologic, aerological, adj.

aeromancy

1. divination from the state of the air or atmospheric conditions, sometimes limited to weather.

2. Humorous. weather forecasting. See also 124. DIVINATION.

aerometry

the science of measuring properties of air; pneumatics. —aerometric, adj.

aeropause

the region in the upper part of the earth’s atmosphere where the air is too thin for aircraft to operate properly.

aerophobia

an abnormal dread of fresh air. —aerophobe, n.

aeroscepsy, aeroscepsis

perception by means of the air, said to be a function of the antennae of insects.

aerosphere

Aeronautics. the area outside the atmosphere of the earth where manned flight is possible.

atmolysis

the separation of gases which are equally diffusible. —atmolyzer, n.

atmospherics

1. the sound, usually a crackling noise, heard over a radio receiver and caused by electromagnetic disturbances in the atmosphere; static.

2. the natural phenomena that create this disturbance.

barograph

a barometer which automatically records, on a rotating cylinder, any variation in atmospheric pressure; a self-recording aneroid.

barometrography

the branch of science that deals with the barometer.

barometry

the art or science of barometric observation.

bioclimatology

a branch of biology that studies the relationship between living creatures and atmospheric conditions. Also called biometeorology . —bioclimatologist, bioclimatician , n. —bioclimatological, adj.

chaomancy

a form of divination involving aerial visions.

convection

the vertical movement of elements of the atmosphere. Cf. advection .

eudiometer

an instrument for measuring the amount of oxygen in the air and for analyzing gases.

exosphere

the highest portion of the earth’s atmosphere, from which air molecules can escape into space. Cf. ionosphere .

ionosphere

the outermost part of the earth’s permanent atmosphere, beyond the stratosphere, composed of heavily ionized molecules. It extends from about 50 to 250 miles above the surface of the earth. Cf. exosphere .

konimeter

an instrument for measuring impurities in the air. —konimetric, adj.

konimetry

the measurement of impurities in the air by means of a konimeter. —konimetric, adj.

koniology, coniology

the study of atmospheric dust and other impurities in the air, as germs, pollen, etc., especially regarding their effect on plant and animal life.

miasmology

the study of fogs and smogs, especially those affecting air pollution levels.

microbarograph

a barograph for recording small fluctuations of atmospheric pressure.

ozonometry

the determination of the proportion of ozone in the atmosphere. —ozonometer, n. —ozonometric, adj.

pneumatics

a specialty in physics that studies the mechanical properties of air and other gases. Also called pneumodynamics .

stratosphere

the upper part of the earth’s atmosphere, characterized by an almost constant temperature throughout its altitude, which begins at about seven miles and continues to the ionosphere, at about 50 miles.

sympiesometer, sympiezometer

an instrument for measuring the weight of the atmosphere by the compression of a column of gas. See also 226. INSTRUMENTS .

tropopause

the zone between the troposphere and the stratosphere where the temperature remains relatively constant above a given point on earth.

troposphere

the region of the earth’s atmosphere between the surface of the earth and the stratosphere.

vacuometer

an instrument used for comparing barometers at varying pressures against a standard barometer.