UGA GEOG1111 Chapter 2

Earths revolution

Determines the length of the year and duration of the seasons.

Insolation

- Intercepted solar radiation arriving at the top of Earths atmosphere and reaching Earths surface (not returned back to space)

nuclear fusion

We exist because of the energy that the sun produces (from - Hydrogen atoms smashed together, creating Helium)

Declination

- Latitude of the sub- solar point; point at which the suns rays hit at 90 degrees, always located between the two tropics, and the location changes with the seasons.

Convection

has the energy form from the molecules themselves moving.

Gravitational pull

compresses the air near the surface.

successive peaks

Wavelength- Distances between , crests, or troughs.

predictable 11 year

Sunspots are found on the surface of the sun, and they follow a(n) cycle.

inner

It shields the atmosphere and surface from harmful iodizing radiation.

solar wind

The interaction between and the magnetosphere leads to Aurora Borealis in the North and Aurora Australis in the South.

Photochemical Smog

- UV radiation /sunlight mixing with pollution from burning gasoline.

Winter Solstice

- Dec 21st Suns rays hit at Tropic of Capricorn.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Sunlight when mixing with can clean off an oxygen atom, which can combine with molecular oxygen and create ozone, which is bad at the surface because it causes respiratory issues.

Solar Constant

- Average amount of energy reaching the top of Earths atmosphere (1372 W /meter^2)

tropospheres energy

The comes from the earths surface.

Daylength

- constant day length ONLY occurs along the equator.

ozone layer

The hole in the is less of a hole, but more of a weaker portion which lets through more UV.

tilt

The of the earths axis (and the fact that the is constant) which influences the seasons.

Thermopause

- Outer boundary of earths atmosphere.

Summer solstice

- June 21st Suns rays hit at Tropic of Cancer.

Frequency

- of waves passing a fixed point every second.

Milky way

The alone has over 100 billion stars.

EM radiation

is broke into categories based on its wavelength: Shortwave, visible, and Infrared.

Solar radiation

provides nearly all energy.

Radiation

- Propagated without medium (like a vacuum)

dangerous radiation

Shortwave- Gamma, X- rays, & Ultraviolet- Super that can harm us.

UV energy

Absorbs and converts it to heat energy.

Global Net Radiation

- difference between incoming and outgoing radiation.

Waves

consist of electric and magnetic components à Electromagnetic Radiation.

Earths orbit

is elliptical, meaning its distance from the Sun varies.

Energy

- Ability to do work (electrical, chemical, thermal, or nuclear)

Anthropogenic Pollution

- Primarily an urban phenomenon (51 % of the world lives in urban places, 1 /3 exposed to unhealthy levels of pollution)

earths

The magnetosphere deflects the wind towards the poles so very little of it gets into the atmosphere.

Sulfur Dioxide

Produces , CO2, and particulate matter.

main gasses

Homosphere: the atmospheres are really well mixed (Nitrogen, Oxygen, CO2, Ozone, etc)

Acid deposition

- Formerly acid rain.

short wavelengths

Earth inputs the energy from the sun and outputs its own longer wavelengths as well as some of the reflected from the sun back into space.

Electromagnetic Radiation

The sun emits , or EM Radiation.

Part of the Stratosphere

Ozonosphere: , has the Ozone layer.

energy transfer

Conduction has the from molecule to molecule.

Convection

- Transferred by vertical movement.

Solar wind

are electrically charged particles that come from the sun and take 3 days to reach earth.

ozone layer

The is 3mm thick at sea level.

earth

Because the is a sphere, there is an unequal distribution of energy from the sun.

Winter Solstice

- Lower latitudes have longer days, Higher latitudes have slower days.

Summer Solstice

- Higher latitudes have longer days, Lower latitudes have slower days.

Magnetosphere

magnetic field surrounding the Earth resulting from internal processes within the Earths core

Energy

Ability to do work (electrical, chemical, thermal, or nuclear)

Joule (J)

Standard unit of energy

Watt (W)

Rate of energy Flow (W = 1 J/s)

Conduction

Molecule to Molecule transfer

Radiation

Propagated without medium (like a vacuum)

Amplitude

Wave Height

Wavelength

Distances between successive peaks, crests, or troughs

Frequency

of waves passing a fixed point every second

Absolute 0

the temperature where all molecular motion ceases

Visible

The colors that we can see, ROYGBIV

Infrared

Near infrared, Shortwave infrared, Middle infrared, Thermal infrared

Longwave

microwaves and radio waves

Daylength

constant day length ONLY occurs along the equator

Summer solstice

June 21st Suns rays hit at Tropic of Cancer

Fall Equinox

Sept 22nd

Winter Solstice

Dec 21st Suns rays hit at Tropic of Capricorn

Spring Equinox

March 21st

Summer Solstice

Higher latitudes have longer days, Lower latitudes have slower days

Winter Solstice

Lower latitudes have longer days, Higher latitudes have slower days