Heat Transfers

1. What is sensible heat transfer?
   It involves the movement of heat through air. Warm air rises as it becomes less dense, cools at higher altitudes, then sinks as it becomes denser. Some advection (horizontal movement) can occur.

2. What is convection in heat transfer?
   A thin air layer above the surface is heated, causing molecules to vibrate more. The less dense gas rises, cools, and falls, creating a convection cycle.

3. When might air sink at night?
   In higher latitudes, air can sink at night as it cools and becomes denser.

4. What is conduction in heat transfer?
   It is the transfer of heat between the ground and the air when they are in direct contact.

💧 Latent Heat Transfer

5. What is latent heat transfer?
   It occurs when water evaporates into water vapor or ice melts. Heat needed for the state change is absorbed from the air, reducing the energy available to heat the surface.

6. How does latent heat of condensation affect convection?
   It increases the speed and extent of convection as heat is released during condensation.

7. How does evaporation cool the surface?
   Water molecules gain energy from surrounding air, changing to gas and leaving the surface. This reduces overall surface energy, cooling the surface and surrounding air.

8. What causes dew to form?
   Dew forms when water-saturated air contacts an object cooler than the air's dew point, causing condensation. Latent heat is released during this process, adding heat to the ground.

🌍 Energy and Surface Changes

9. How is absorbed energy returned to Earth?
   Greenhouse gases absorb reradiated longwave radiation, warming the atmosphere.

10. How does surface temperature change during the day?
    The surface heats through radiation, conduction, and convection. Surface air moves slowly due to friction, heats up, and rises due to convection.

11. How does surface temperature change at night?
    The ground cools without incoming radiation, and heat from soil and rocks rises to warm the surface.