2. Seasons And Solar Energy

Question 1

plane of the ecliptic

Answer 1

flat plane traced by the orbital paths of the planets in the solar system

Question 2

subsolar point

Answer 2

single point at which the Sun’s rays are perpendicular to Earth’s surface at or near noon; restricted to between 23.5° north and south latitude

Question 3

tropic of cancer

Answer 3

the 23.5° north parallel; the maximum latitude of the subsolar point in the northern hemisphere

Question 4

tropic of capricorn

Answer 4

the 23.5 south parallel; the maximum latitude of the subsolar point in the southern hemisphere

Question 5

circle of illumination

Answer 5

line separating night from day, where sunrise and sunset are occurring

Question 6

solar altitude

Answer 6

altitude of the Sun above the horizon in degrees

Question 7

December solstice

Answer 7

seasonal marker that occurs when the subsolar point is at 23.5° south, on about December 21.

Question 8

March equinox

Answer 8

seasonal marker that occurs when the subsolar point is over the equator about March 20

Question 9

June solstice

Answer 9

a seasonal marker that occurs when the subsolar point is 23.5° north latitude about June 21

Question 10

September Equinox

Answer 10

seasonal marker that occurs when the subsolar point is over the equator about September 22

Question 11

Arctic Circle

Answer 11

the 66.5° north parallel

Question 12

Antarctic Circle

Answer 12

the 66.5° south parallel

Question 13

heat-index temperature

Answer 13

temperature perceived by people as a result of high atmospheric humidity coupled with high air temperatures.

Question 14

temperature

Answer 14

average kinetic movement of atoms and molecules of a substance

Question 15

heat

Answer 15

internal energy transferred between materials or systems due to their temperature differences

Question 16

conduction

Answer 16

process by which energy is transferred through a substance or between objects in direct contact

Question 17

convection

Answer 17

transfer of heat through movement of mass within a fluid (liquid or gas)

Question 18

radiation

Answer 18

process by which wave energy travels through the vacuum of space or through a physical medium such as air or water

Question 19

continental effect

Answer 19

increase in seasonality with distance from the oceans

Question 20

specific heat

Answer 20

heat required to raise the temperature of any object or material by a given amount

Question 21

Radiant Energy (radiation)

Answer 21

energy propagated in the form of electromagnetic waves, including visible light and heat

Question 22

electromagnetic spectrum (EMS)

Answer 22

full range of wavelengths of radiant energy

Question 23

longwave radiation (LWR)

Answer 23

radiation with wavelengths longer than 4 Mm

Question 24

shortwave radiation (SWR)

Answer 24

solar radiation with wavelengths shorter than 4Mm; includes visible sunlight

Question 25

visible radiation (or light)

Answer 25

portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that people can see

Question 26

infrared radiation (IR)

Answer 26

electromagnetic radiation that has wavelengths longer than visible radiation

Question 27

insulation (incoming solar radiation)

Answer 27

solar radiation that reaches earth

Question 28

transmission

Answer 28

unimpeded movement of electromagnetic energy through a medium such as air, water, or glass

Question 29

scattering

Answer 29

process of redirecting solar radiation in random directions as it strikes physical matter

Question 30

reflection

Answer 30

process of returning a portion of the radiation striking a surface in the general direction from which it came

Question 31

albedo

Answer 31

reflectivity of a surface, given as the percentage of incoming radiation that it reflects

Question 32

urban heat island

Answer 32

urbanized region that is significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas

Question 33

radiative equilibrium temperature

Answer 33

temperature of an object resulting from the balance between incoming and outgoing energy

Question 34

greenhouse effect

Answer 34

process by which the atmosphere is warmed as greenhouse gases (water vapour, CO2, and methane) and clouds absorb and counterradiate heat

Question 35

global heat engine

Answer 35

movement of heat from low to high latitudes and low to high altitudes as a result of heating differences

Question 36

renewable energy

Answer 36

energy that comes from sources that are not depleted when used, such as sunlight or wind