Final answer:
Compression in the context of atmospheric heating refers to the act of gas molecules being forced closer together which increases the temperature of the gas. This is seen in phenomena such as spacecraft re-entry where the atmosphere is compressed and heats the spacecraft. Compression is different from the greenhouse effect which is a warming process caused by gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term compression refers to the process in which a gas, such as the atmosphere, is pressed together, causing an increase in temperature. An example of this is when a spacecraft re-enters Earth's atmosphere; the air in front of the spacecraft is compressed and as a result of the compression, the kinetic energy of the spacecraft is converted into heat. Another demonstration of compression can be seen when a vibrating string moves compressing the air in front of it; this is called a compression, contrasting with a rarefaction which occurs where the medium is expanded.
Additionally, the warming of the atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect is governed by gases that capture heat but this process is distinct and should not be confused with compression-induced heating. When discussing matters like scuba diving compressibility is also an important concept; it measures how much the volume of matter decreases under pressure, and gases are significantly more compressible than liquids and solids.