Earth Energy Distribution and Greenhouse Physics

Variable input (absorbed) to earth’s surface

-Latitudinal differences
-Aspect/slope: direction facing & degree from horizontal
-Reflected: albedo - dark vs. light surfaces (clouds, water, ice, snow, soil, vegetation)

The Earth’s Orbit—The Basics

• Daily Cycle: Earth rotates on its axis - approx. 24 hrs.
• Annual Cycle: Earth orbits the Sun- approx. 365 da.
• Seasons: Tilt of axis
– The tilt & orbit around sun is
responsible for the seasons.

Hot Air Rises

expands and cools - air approaches the dew point (To where
water content reaches saturation and condenses)
- fog or clouds form (rains)

Cool Dry Air

heavier and falls back to surface - heats up as falls and pressure increases

Water Distibution

Reservoirs

Total Water: 1,400,000 X 1018 g (103 km3)

1m3 = 106 g = 1,000 kg

Oceans cover 71% of the earths surface

- holding ca. 97 % of the earth's water.

Freshwater is 3% of the earth's supply.

69% of this fresh is in Glaciers - (2% of total)

30% of 3 % is in Groundwater aquifers (0.6%)

Lakes & Rivers - 0.009%

Soil moisture - 0.005%

Living matter - 0.00007%

Atmosphere contains only 0.001% of the total

water- has rapid turnover - 10 days