Ch3 Flashcards
Power
Rate at which energy is released. Unit- watt(joule or second)
Electromagnetic radiation
Radiation emitted by the sun and transferred to the earth
Low solar angle
=less radiation-> cooler temperature
Higher solar angle
=more radiation->warmer temperature
Sub solar point
Point on earth where the sun is directly overhead(rays meet the surface at the right angle)
Solar declination
Latitude of the sub solar point
What causes seasons?
Seasons are the results of the tilt of the earths axis leading to the different amounts to the sunlight reaching the surface at different times of the year
Equinox-March
Solar declination=0degrees
Every place on earth experiences 12 hours of daylight
Both northern and Southern Hemispheres receive equal amounts of insolation
Solstice June
Solar declination=23.5 degrees north
24 hours of daylight north of arctic circle
24 hours of night south of Antarctic circle
Northern hemisphere receives more insolation than the Southern Hemisphere
Equinox September
Solar declination =O degrees
Every place of earth experiences 12 hours of daylight
Both northern and southern lights receive equal amounts of insolation
December solstice
Solar declination-23.5 degrees south
North of Arctic circle 24 hours night
South of Antarctic circle 24 hours daylight
Northern hemisphere receives less insolation than the Southern Hemisphere
Conduction
Movement of Heat through a substance without the movement of molecules in the direction of heat transfer
Least significant transfer of heat for the atmosphere as a whole(air is poor conducted)
Poor conductors are insulaters(snow)
Convection
Vertical heat transfer. Not advection which is horizontal transfer
Radiation
Energy emitted by all matter
Does not require a transfer medium(so it can travel through empty space)
Albedo
Percentage of visible light reflected
Light colored surfaces(eg snow) reflects more light
Dark colored surfaces(forests) absorbs more light
