heating earths surface n atmosphere

weather pp 2 notes

earths 2 principal motions

rotation and revolution

rotation

spinning of the earth on it’s axis, resulting in daily cycle of day and night

revolution

movement of earth in an elliptical orbit around the sun, takes 1 year.

perihelion

January 3rd, closest point to sun

aphelion

july 4th, furthest point from sun.

earths axis of rotation

tilted relative to plane of the ecliptic

plane of ecliptic

plane of earths orbit of the sun.

inclination of the axis

tilt of earths axis from the perpendicular to the plane of earths orbit (plane of ecliptic)

gradual change in day length

accounts for some of teh diff of seasons

change in angle of the sun (Altitude)

plays large role of diff in seasons.

summer solstice

June 21-22, sun altitude at ½ degrees north. latitude at 23, tropic of cancer with vertical sun rays

winter solstice

dec, 21-22, sun vertical at latitude 23 ½ degree south, tropic Capricorn. with vertical sun rays.

fall equinox

sep 22-23, sun vertical rays, at equator

spring equinox

march 21-22, vertical sun rays, at equator

equator has what kind of rays?

vertical

what does equinox mean for day and night?

they are equal.

further from the equator?

more extreme sunlight and seasons

tilt of earth results in?

seasons

latitude

how far you are from the equator

energy

capacity to do work

kinetic energy

energy possessed by an object when the object is in motion; faster the motion, the greater the energy

potential energy

an objects capable of either motion or work. substances like food, gas, wood contain potential energy.

temperature

measure of avg kinetic energy of atoms or molecules in a substance. as temp increases, energy gained. as temp decreases, energy lost.

heat

energy transferred in/out of an object due to different temp

sensible heat

heat we can feel or measure with a thermometer (outside;hot).

latent heat

energy absorbed or released but w/ no change in temp is called latent heat (hidden)

three ways energy flows

conduction, convection, solar radiation

conduction

heat transferred through collisions of molecules n electrons from 1 molecule to another.

convection

heat transferred that involves the actual movement or circulation of a substance.

radiation or electromagnetic radiation

wavelength describes distance between crest of 1 radio wave n next

visible light

often referred to as “White light” actually described the sensitivity of human eye to range of wavelengths

infrared radiation

cannot be seen by human eye, felt as heat.

ultra violet radiation

on opposite side of visible spectrum, consists of wavelengths that may cause sunburns, high frequency UV, is more damaging.

purple/blue light

shorter waves

red/orange

longer waves

all objects continuously radiate

energy of a range of wave lengths

hotter objects

radiate more total energy per unit than colder ones

transmission

process by which shortwave n longwave energy passes through the atmosphere (or any transparent media) w/out interacting w/ the gases or other particles in the atmosphere.

absorptivity

measure of the amount of radiation energy absorbed by a substance

reflection

process where by light bounces back from an object at the same angle n intensity at which it was received

albedo

% of radiation reflected by an object or energy reflected from an object/ total energy impacting object.

scattering

process in which radiation is forced to deviate from a straight trajectory. produces large number of weaker rays traveling in diff direction. explains why sky is blue

back scattering

both backwards n forwards, hit something bounce back in same direction it came from.

diffused light

obtained when dust particles n gas molecules scatter light in diff directions

preferential scattering of solar radiation is done by what?

atmospheric gases and amount of atmosphere ray has to travel through.

more aerosols

more scattering

significant absorbers of incoming solar radiation

water vapor, oxygen, ozone

Significant absorbers of long-wave radiation (comes from the earth)

c02, h20 vapor

greenhouse effect

transmission of shortwave solar radiation by the atmosphere coupled with the selective absorption of longer wave length terrestrial radiation. especially by water-vapor n carbon dioxide, resulting in warming of atmosphere

surface to atmosphere equilibrium

accomplished through conduction, convection, transfer of latent heat, n transmission of longwave radiation between earths surface n atmosphere.

annual energy budget

annual balance of incoming n outgoing radiation, as well as energy balance that exists between earths surface n it’s atmosphere. cant spend energy u don’t have. what goes in=goes out.

at 38 degrees incoming and outgoing radiation are?

equal

above 38 degrees atmosphere loses?

more radiation

below 38 degrees the atmosphere gains more?

atmosphere