Atmospheric Heat Budget Flashcards
What ways is heat transferred from surface to atmosphere?
Radiation
Conduction
Release of latent heat
Through what 2 mediums is heat transferred?
Wind
Water
Low latitudes (tropics)=
Surplus of heat
High latitudes (poles) =
Deficit of heat
What 3 processes reduce the amount of heat that reaches the earth?
Absorption (by clouds + air)
Reflection (albedo effect)
Scatterings
What percentage of isolation reaches earth’s surface?
24%
What is insolation?
Incoming solar radiation
Energy from the sun in the form of shortwave solar radiation
Give examples of short wave radiation?
UV Visible light Rays Gamma rays X-Rays
Give examples of long wave radiation?
Thermal
Infrared
Microwaves
Radio waves
What is the atmospheric heat budget?
Heat gained and lost by the earth
If heat is absorbed what type of radiation is it released as?
Long wave
What 4 factors does the amount of received insolation depend on?
- shape of earth
- angle of incidence
- orbit
- tilt of earth
Explain shape of earth
The equator is closer ,in distance, to the sun whilst the poles are further away.
Explain angle of incidence
Equator = larger angle of incidence meaning the sun is higher in the sky and the sun received is more concentrated due to smaller surface area.
Poles = smaller angle of incidence meaning the sun is ,even at its highest, low in the sky meaning less insolation is received and it is less concentrated due to a larger surface area.
Explain orbit
The orbit of the earth occurs is an elliptical shape. When earth is closest to the sun there is more insolation.
