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| The condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place. |
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| The mixture of gases that surrounds Earth. The outermost of the four spheres into which scientists divide Earth. |
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| A form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of the usual two. |
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| The invisible, gaseous form of water. |
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| Harmful substances in the air, water, or soil. |
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| A brownish haze that is a mixture of ozone and other chemicals, formed when nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants react with one another in the presence of sunlight. |
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| A phenomenon that results when a layer of warm air becomes trapped between two cooler layers, preventing the air close to Earth from escaping. |
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| Rain that is more acidic than normal, caused by the release of molecules of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the air. |
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| The amount of mass in a given space; mass per unit volume. |
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| The amount of force pushing on a surface or area. |
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| A force that is the result of the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area. |
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| An instrument used to measure changes in air pressure. |
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| An instrument that measures changes in air pressure, consisting of a glass tube part filled with mercury, with its open end resting in a dish of mercury. Air pressure pushing on the mercury in the dish forces the mercury in the tube higher. |
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| An instrument that measures changes in air pressure without using a liquid. Changes in the shape of an airtight metal box cause a needle on the barometer dial to move. |
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| Elevation above sea level. |
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| The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where weather occurs. |
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| The second-lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere; the ozone layer is located in the upper stratosphere. |
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| The middle layer of Earth's atmosphere; the layer in which most meteoroids burn up. |
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| The outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere. |
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| The lower part of the thermosphere, where electrically charged particles called ions are found. |
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| A colorful, glowing display in the sky caused when particles from the sun strike oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the ionosphere; also called the Northern Lights. |
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| The outer layer of the thermosphere, extending outward into space. |
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