Insolation and Temperature

Vocabulary flashcards covering factors affecting insolation and temperature, including sun ray inclination, atmospheric thickness, duration of sunshine, atmospheric transparency, land/water distribution, and slope of land.

Sun's Rays at $30^\circ$ Inclination

Sun's rays inclined at $30^\circ$ provide nearby half the insolation as compared to those falling vertically.

Atmospheric Thickness

The distance solar rays pass through the atmosphere; a larger thickness leads to greater scattering, reflection, and absorption, reducing the intensity of insolation at the surface.

Duration of Sunshine at the Equator

The constant length of the day throughout the year at the equator, which results in the same amount of insolation received year-round.

Duration of Sunshine at the Poles

The period where days and nights are each of six months' duration, creating large seasonal variations of insolation.

Transparency of the Atmosphere

The condition of the atmosphere determined by the amount and thickness of cloud cover, dust, and water vapour, which affects the reflection, absorption, and transmission of solar radiation.

Specific Heat of Water

The thermal property of water which is about five times more than the specific heat of land, causing water to heat up and cool down much slower.

Insolation Penetration Depth

 The depth solar radiation can reach into surfaces, estimated at a maximum of $1\,\text{metre}$ into land and $20\,\text{metres}$ into water.

Slope of Land (Northern Hemisphere)

The inclination of mountain slopes, where southern slopes in the Northern Hemisphere receive more insolation than their northern counterparts because they face the sun.