Atmosphere and weather 2.1 Flashcards
1
Q
What is the energy budget?
A
The amount of energy entering, leaving and being transferred within the system.
2
Q
Which 6 factors affect the diurnal energy budget? IRSSLL
A
- Insolation
- Reflected solar radiation
- Surface absorption
- Sensible heat transfer
- Longwave radiation
- Latent heat transfer
3
Q
What is insolation?
A
- Also known as incoming solar radiation
- The main energy input and is affected by latitude. season and cloud cover.
- Only 48% is absorbed by the earths surface.
4
Q
What is reflected solar radiation?
A
- The proportion of energy that is reflected back to the atmosphere - is known as the albedo.
- 6% of insolation is reflected by the earths surface.
5
Q
What is surface absorption?
A
- The proportion of energy that is absorbed into the ground.
- Dark surfaces absorb much more radiation than surfaces with a high albedo.
6
Q
What is sensible heat transfer?
A
The movement of parcels of air into and out of the area. Air that is warmed by the surface will rise and be replaced by falling cooler air.
7
Q
What is longwave radiation?
A
- The radiation of energy from the earth into the atmosphere.
- 12% of insolation is re-emitted as longwave radiation.
- Clouds absorb it and re-radiates it back to earth which keeps heat in via the greenhouse effect.
8
Q
What is latent heat transfer?
A
- Occurs where water on the surface evaporates to water vapor.
- The heat needed for this is absorbed from the air.
- Rising molecules of water vapor store heat until condensation when the heat is released back into the atmosphere
- 25% of insolation turns into latent heat transfer.
9
Q
What is convection?
A
- The transfer of heat by the movement of a gas or liquid away from a heats source.
10
Q
What is conduction?
A
Heat transfer between objects by direct contact
11
Q
Which two factors are not present during the night-time energy budget?
A
- Insolation from the sun.
- Reflected solar radiation.
