4.7 Solar Radiation & Earth's Seasons

Define Climate

average weather in a region over long period of time

Define weather

short-term conditions of atmosphere at local area

What drives world climates?

unequal heating of earth

Identify the three primary causes of uneven warming patterns of Earth.

1. variation in angle at which the sun’s rays strike earth

2. variation in amount of surface area over which sun is distributed

3. some areas of Earth reflect more solar energy than others

Why does the length of the Sun’s rays cause unequal heating of Earth's surface?

more solar energy reaches the surface closest aka the equator while the north poles get longer sun rays, causing lower solar energy

Describe how the amount of surface area leads to uneven warming of Earth

if sun rays hit the equator, the solar energy is distributed over smaller surface area

Define albedo

percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface

Describe the difference between higher and lower albedo and give an example for each.

The color white has a high albedo percentage than black. This is because black absorbs a lot of heat while white reflects it, leading to lower temperatures.

What causes Earth’s seasons?

earths tilt

How do the seasons differ between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

They are the opposite of each other. Due to Earth’s tilt, one hemisphere gets more direct sunlight while the other gets less.

When do the Sun’s rays strike the equator directly?

at equinoxes

Describe the June solstice

when N hemisphere experiences more daylight hours than on other day of the year

Describe the December solstice

when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn

Insolation

The amount of solar radiation energy received by the Earth

Solstices

The two points in the year when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, resulting in the longest and shortest days of the year

Equinoxes

The two points in Earth's orbit around the Sun when day and night are approximately equal in length all over the world