Chapter 2 Mats. Flashcards
WIN!
electromagnetic spectrum
gamma-X-UV-vis-IR-micro
wavelength inc from left to right
velocity formula
frequency/wavelength
visible light spectrum wavelength
.4-.7 (reflected light)
infrared wavelength
10-12 (emitted light)
water vapor wavelength
6.5-6.9 (emitted IR light)
is the sun a massive star?
it is big, but an average sized star all in all
intensity distribution
the intensity of EM radiation at a given wavelength
% of sun’s UV that is absorved
70%
% of sun’s UV that is reflected & scattered
30%
what is albedo
lost/total
what scatters more, blue or red?
blue
-this is why sunsets are so red, vibrant
what is earth’s albedo
30/100 = 30%
what is the heat budget concept
there is a balance of heat: total incoming from sun=total outgoing
latitude determines what in terms of energy?
based on your latitude, there could be an energy surplus or deficit
earth’s rotation
spinning on the axis
-takes 24 hrs
earth’s orbit
around the sun
-365 days
perihelion
closest to sun
aphelion
farthest from sun
what affects the amount of solar energy that reaches earth?
angle (alt.) of the sun above the horizon
noon solar time
sun highest in the sky
what happens when sun has high angle on earth?
sunburn
-shadow rule
what would happen if axis wasn’t inclined?
no seasons
summer solstice
tropic of cancer at 23.5 north latitude
winter solstice
tropic of capricorn
-23.5 south latitude
autumnal equiniox
sept. 22/23
- axis tilted neither towards nor away from sun
spring equinox
march 21/22
-axis tilted neither towards nor away from sun
energy
ability for work
kinetic energy
energy associated with another object causing that energy
-hammer
potential energy
potential or capacity to do work
temperature definition
measure of average kinetic energy of the atoms/molecules of the substance
heat
energy transferred into or our of an object
-total kinetic energy
is evaporation a cooling or heating process? why?
cooling process bc it removes heat from the environment
what is latent heat
the energy required to convert a solid into a liquid, or a liquid into a vapor, without a temperature change
what does condensation do
returns energy to the environment
-warming process
conduction
molecule to molecule transfer of heat
convection
heat transfer involving the movement of circulation of a substance
is convection vertical or horizontal
vertical
advection
horizontal heat transfer via circulation of a substance
radiation
transfers thermal energy thru vacuum of space
whats responsible for solar energy reaching earth
radiation
visible light
violet (0.4) to red (0.7)
Infrared radiation
detected as heat (not visible)
UV radiation
sunburns
what has more energy, shorter wavelengths or longer wavelengths?
shorter (more frequent)
what three things can happen to solar radiation
transmission, absorption, reflection & scattering
albedo
fraction of light that is reflected by an object
what process causes blue skies and red sunsets?
selective scattering of solar radiation
what kind of particles produce red sunsets
small particles
what kind of particles cause a white/grey sky
large particles
is solar energy an effective heater of the environment?
no, since the atmosphere is nearly transparent to solar radiation
where is the atmospheric window for IR radiation
8 to 10 wavelength
what kind of gases absorb long wavelength radiation
greenhouse gases
- water vapor
- carbon dioxide
greenhouse effect
warms the surface and lower atmosphere
what balances the incoming solar radiation
quantity of long wavelength radiation that is radiated back to space
what drives earth’s weather system
transfer of surplus heat b/w tropics and poles
