Atmosphere: The Global Heat Budget Flashcards
1
Q
most significant layers of atmosphere (2)
A
- troposphere
- stratosphere
2
Q
troposphere
A
- contains most atmospheric moisture
- most air, water vapour and dust
3
Q
stratosphere
A
- contains ozone gas which filters out the most harmful UV radiation
4
Q
total insolation reflected
A
30%
5
Q
total insolation absorbed
A
70%
6
Q
total insolation absorbed by the earth
A
51%
7
Q
insolation can be reflected/absorbed by… (3)
A
- clouds
- atmospheric particles
- earth’s surface
8
Q
different rates of reflection can be explained by… (3)
A
- different cloud cover
- whiteness of snow/ice in polar areas
- deserts
9
Q
different rates of absorption can be explained by… (2)
A
- smog over cities
- dark surfaces of ocean and rainforest in tropical areas
10
Q
how does earth’s curvature affect the angle of insolation?
A
- at the equator, insolation hits the earth at a right angle and is more intense
- at the poles, insolation hits the earth at an oblique angle and is weaker
11
Q
how does earth’s curvature affect the area of insolation?
A
- at the equator, insolation is concentrated on a smaller area
- at the poles, insolation is spread out over a larger area
12
Q
how does earth’s curvature affect the amount of atmosphere that insolation has to travel through?
A
- at the poles, insolation has to travel through more atmosphere, so more energy is lost
- at the equator, insolation has to travel through less atmosphere, so less energy is lost
13
Q
how does the Albedo effect affect the amount of insolation received by the poles/equator?
A
- at the poles, the whiteness of ice and snow reflect the solar radiation
- at the equator, the dark colour of the oceans and rainforest absorb solar radiation
14
Q
how does seasonal variation affect the amount of insolation received by high/low latitudes?
A
- at lower latitudes in the tropics, the sun is high in the sky all year, so high amounts of insolation are received all year
- at higher latitudes, there are distinct hot and cold seasons, so some areas receive less insolation for several months a year
