Geosystems: Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures

Flashcards covering key concepts from the 'Atmospheric Energy and Global Temps' lecture, including energy essentials, pathways, principles, heat transfer, temperature controls, and human body responses to temperature.

What type of energy comes from the Sun?

Shortwave energy (UV, visible, and near IR)

What type of energy is emitted from Earth?

Longwave energy (Thermal IR)

What is insolation input?

All radiation received at Earth's surface, both direct and indirect.

What is 'transmission' in the context of energy pathways?

The passage of energy through the atmosphere or water, also known as direct radiation.

What is 'scattering'?

Changing the direction of light's movement without altering its wavelengths, resulting in diffuse radiation.

What is 'refraction'?

A change in the speed and direction of light.

What is albedo?

The reflective quality of a surface.

How does a surface's color and texture relate to its albedo?

High albedo surfaces are typically light and smooth, while low albedo surfaces are dark and rough.

What is Earth's overall average albedo?

31%

What is cloud-albedo forcing?

When lower stratus clouds reflect shortwave energy from the Sun, leading to atmospheric cooling.

What is cloud-greenhouse forcing?

When higher cirrus clouds act as insulation, trapping longwave radiation and leading to atmospheric warming.

What is absorption in the context of energy?

The assimilation of radiation by matter and its conversion into another form of energy (like heat).

How is energy transferred by 'conduction'?

Through molecule-to-molecule transfer.

How is energy transferred by 'convection'?

Through vertical movement of energy.

How is energy transferred by 'advection'?

Through horizontal movement of energy.

How is energy transferred by 'radiation'?

Energy traveling through air or space.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The process by which the atmosphere absorbs heat energy, delaying the transfer of heat from Earth into space and leading to atmospheric warming.

What characterizes the energy budget at equatorial and tropical latitudes?

An energy surplus.

What characterizes the energy budget at polar latitudes?

An energy deficit.

In terms of daily radiation patterns, when does the warmest time of day typically occur relative to local noon?

After local noon, due to a lag in air temperature increase.

What is the formula for Net Radiation (NET R) at Earth's surface?

NET R = +Shortwave (insolation) - Shortwave (reflection) + Longwave (infrared) - Longwave (infrared).

What is the 'latent heat of evaporation'?

Energy stored in water vapor as water evaporates.

What is 'sensible heat'?

The back-and-forth transfer of energy between air and the surface through conduction and convection.

What is 'ground heating and cooling'?

Energy that flows in and out of the ground by conduction.

What is typical of the urban environment's air circulation and temperature compared to surrounding rural areas?

It often forms an 'urban heat island' with warmer air and a dust dome, due to less reflection and more infrared trapping.

What is the difference between 'heat' and 'temperature'?

Heat is a form of energy that flows between systems, while temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules.

Name three common temperature scales.

Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin.

What do satellites measure for global temperature data?

'Skin' temperatures or Land Surface Temperatures (LST).

List the four principal temperature controls.

Latitude, Altitude, Cloud Cover, and Land-Water Heating Differences.

How does altitude affect daily temperature range and annual average temperature?

High altitude areas have a greater daily range and lower annual average temperature.

How does cloud cover moderate temperatures?

Clouds have high albedo, leading to cooler days and warmer nights.

What is 'specific heat' in relation to land-water heating differences?

The capacity of a substance to hold heat and how its temperature changes with added energy.

How do maritime and continental climates differ in temperature conditions?

Maritime climates have more moderate temperatures due to water warming and cooling slowly, while continental climates have more extreme temperatures because land warms and cools rapidly.

What is the 'thermal equator'?

An imaginary line connecting points of highest mean temperature, which shifts seasonally.

When does the thermal equator typically move southward?

During January.

When does the thermal equator typically move northward?

During July.

What is primarily responsible for the patterns seen on an annual temperature range map?

Continentality (land-water heating differences).

What is a 'temperature anomaly'?

The difference in temperature from a recorded average long-term temperature, serving as a baseline.

From what period does the directly measured instrumental record of global surface temperature primarily exist?

From 1850 to the present.

How does the human body regulate itself at low temperatures?

By constricting surface blood vessels, shivering, increasing muscle tone and cell metabolism, and decreasing sweating.

How does the human body regulate itself at high temperatures?

By dilating surface blood vessels, sweating, and decreasing muscle tone.

What does the wind chill table correlate?

Cold temperatures and wind speed to indicate how cold it feels.

What does the heat index table correlate?

Heat and humidity to indicate how hot it feels.

Describe 'heat cramps'.

Painful, involuntary muscle spasms, often in calves, arms, abdomen, and back.

Describe 'heat exhaustion'.

Weak and rapid pulse, low blood pressure, cool-moist skin, faintness, dizziness, and nausea.

What is 'heat stroke'?

A medical emergency with a body temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher, requiring immediate treatment to prevent damage to organs.