The Heating of Earth's Surface and Atmosphere

Based mostly on notes from my Introduction To Weather class at Suffolk County Community College

Perihelion

The point where a planet, comet, or asteroid is closest to the sun.

Aphelion

The point where a planet, comet, or asteroid is furthest from the sun

January 3

The Earth’s perihelion occurs around…

July 4

The Earth’s aphelion occurs around…

June 21 or 22, Tropic Of Cancer, Longest

The summer solstice occurs around_______, where the sun’s rays are vertical at the___________, and produces the_______day in the northern hemisphere

December 21 or 22, Tropic Of Capricorn, Shortest

The winter solstice occurs around______, where the sun’s rays are vertical at the________, and produces the________day in the northern hemisphere

Energy

The capacity to do work

Kinetic Energy

The energy possessed by an object when the object is in motion.

Faster, Greater

The______the motion, the______the kinetic energy

Temperature

The measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules in a substance.

Subsolar Point (Zenith)

The locations on Earth where the sun’s rays are directly overhead, perpendicular to the Earth’s surface

Increases

As temperature_____, energy is gained

Decreases

As temperature_______, energy is lost

Latent Heat

Energy absorbed or released with no change in temperature

Heat

The energy transferred into or out of an object due to temperature differences

Sensible Heat

The heat we can feel or measure with a thermometer.

Conduction

The heat transferred through collisions of molecules and electrons from one molecule to another.

Convection

Heat transferred through vertical and/or horizontal movements or circulation of a substance

Thermal Currents

When warm air rises, it creates…

Radiation

A process in which energetic waves travel through a vacuum, or through matter-containing media that are not required for movement

Horizontal Component

Advection primarily describes the__________of convective flow

Micrometers

One of the main units of length that is used to measure wavelengths. It is 10^-6 meters long.

Lambda

Wavelengths are scientifically denoted by the symbol….

Type Of Energy Within It

In the electromagnetic spectrum, wavelengths define the…

Greater Than Three

In general, longwave energy is__________micrometers long

Less Than Three

In general, shortwave energy is___________micrometers long

0.5

The sun’s energy is centered around______micrometers

0.3, 0.7

Visible light ranges from around______to______micrometers

Visible Light

This sensitivity of the human eye to a range of wavelengths is described by…

Infrared Radiation

This is a type of radiation that cannot be seen from the human eye, is emitted from the Earth, and is felt as heat.

Light, Heat

Solar radiation travels through space, which creates_______and_______energy

Scattering

When solar radiation enters into the atmosphere, this often occurs, which produces a number of weaker rays traveling in different directions.

Backwards, Forwards

When scattering happens both________and ________, it is known as backscattering

Reflection

When solar radiation enters the atmosphere, this often occurs, in which light bounces back from an object at the same angle and intensity that it hit the object.

Albedo

The percentage of radiation reflected by an object.

Diffused Light

This is obtained when dust particles and gas molecules scatter light in different directions.

Blue Sky

Diffused light can be seen on clear days through the….

Half

Around________of heat energy is absorbed by the Earth’s surface

Shortwave Radiation, Sun

Oxygen and ozone absorb_________emitted from the_________

Longwave Radiation, Earth

Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen absorb___________emitted from the____________

On Wavelength

Gas absorptivity is dependent….

Transmission

This is when incoming energy into the Earth does not interact with atmospheric gases or particles.

Absorbs, Outgoing, Transmits, Surface

The atmosphere_________the Earth’s______radiation, and___________a portion down to the________

Incoming Sunlight

The atmosphere is generally transparent to….

Greenhouse Effect

A natural phenomenon in which the Earth’s atmosphere traps outgoing radiation, heating the air.

Heat Budget

The annual balance of incoming and outgoing radiation on the Earth.

Loses More Radiation

Above approximately 37 degrees, the atmosphere….

Gains More Radiation

Below approximately 37 degrees, the atmosphere….

Energy Imbalance

At almost any location or at any particular time on Earth, there is almost always an…

37 Degrees

In both hemispheres, incoming and outgoing radiation is equal at around…

Global Balance, Excess Heat, Transferring, Poles

A_________is maintained by________from the equatorial region________toward the_______

The Earth’s Weather

The imbalance of heating is what drives…

Radiate Energy

All objects continually________of a range of wavelengths

Emitting

Objects that are good at absorbing radiation are also good at________it

Weather Satellites

These are used to monitor space and the earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and surface in real time. 

Radiated, Surface, Visible, Infrared

Weather satellites record energy_______from a__________, particularly________and_______light

September 21 or 22

The autumnal equinox occurs around….

March 21 or 22

The vernal equinox occurs around…

Equator, Equal

During the equinoxes, the sun’s rays are vertical at the______, and the length of day and night are nearly______

47, 23.5 Degrees North, 23.5 Degrees South

The subsolar point’s location spans across_______degrees of latitude, between______and________

Oblique

The sun’s rays become more_______closer to the poles

Least Amount, Solar Intensity

When the sun is directly overhead, it has the__________of atmosphere to travel through, causing the highest___________

Higher

As temperature increases, there is a__________amount of collisions between particles