Atmospheric Energy and Solar Radiation Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic atmospheric composition, mechanisms of energy transfer, radiation types, physical laws, and solar insolation.

Atmospheric Composition

The mixture of gases in the atmosphere, composed of $20\%$ oxygen, $80\%$ nitrogen, and trace gases such as carbon dioxide, argon, and water vapor.

Transmission

The interaction where energy passes straight through clean air or the atmosphere, similar to light passing through clear glass.

Reflection

The process where energy bounces back in one direction, like off a mirror or a still body of water.

Scattering

The process where sun rays hit a surface or substance, such as clouds or wavy water on a windy day, and bounce off in different directions.

Absorption

The process where land surfaces and dark masses, such as soil, rocks, or dense forests, absorb incoming radiative energy.

Conduction

Heat energy transferred via direct physical contact between objects.

Convection

The transfer of energy through circulating convection cells in an up and down motion.

Invection

Energy transfer that moves sideways rather than up and down like a convection cell.

Radiation

Energy transferred through electromagnetic fields emitted by all objects warmer than absolute zero.

Sensible Heat

Heat that can be directly felt or sensed, such as a human holding a hot or cold cup of water.

Latent Heat

Energy used during phase transitions to convert a substance (such as water into vapor) where added energy does not result in an increased temperature.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Energy given off by charged particles that is carried through electric and magnetic fields.

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

A law illustrating that the amount of energy emitted by an object rises steeply with its temperature.

Leyn's Law

A law establishing that hotter objects have faster moving molecules, causing them to emit radiation at shorter wavelengths.

Infrared Light

Radiation with longer wavelengths that carries less energy per wave and is felt primarily as heat.

Visible Light

Radiation in the middle of the spectrum that makes up most of the sun's energy output.

Ultraviolet Light

Radiation with very short wavelengths and high energy per wave that can cause burns.

X-rays

Extremely powerful short-wavelength radiation that can pass through soft human tissue but not easily through bone.

Insulation (Solar)

The arrival of the sun's energy at Earth, defined as the average amount of solar radiation reaching the top of the Earth's atmosphere.

Sunspots

Dark patches on the sun indicating strong magnetic fields, operating on an $11\text{-year}$ cycle that creates periods of intense heat and energy.