4.7 Solar Radiation and Seasons

Solar Intensity & latitude

Insolation: direct spot of sunlight, higher at equator

Angle: direct rays strike earths surface

Amount of atmosphere suns rays pass through equator

Equator—> higher insolation than higher latitudes

Solar intensity and seasons

Orbit of earth around sun & tilt on axis changes angle of sun rays —> varying insolation, length of day, and seasons

Title of earths axis states fixed during orbit

Albedo

Albedo: proportion of light that is reflected by a surface

Surfaces with higher albedo reflect more light, absorb less ice/ snow, absorb less heat

Surfaces with lower albedo reflect less light, absorb more water, absorb more heat

Urban heat islands

Urban areas are hotter than surprising rural area bc of low albedo of blacktop

Solestices and equinox

Solestices: hemisphere is max towards sun

Equinox: hemisphere is equally facing the sun