Chapter 2 - Solar Radiation and Water Temperature Flashcards
Different colors and their wavelengths
Violet: 380-450
Blue: 450-495
Green: 495-570
Yellow: 570-590
Orange: 590-620
Red: 620-750
Lowest to highest energy (wavelengths get smaller as the energy gets higher) electromagnetic radiation sources
Radio -> microwaves -> infrared -> visible light -> ultraviolet -> X-rays -> gamma rays
Greenhouse effect
The natural warming of Earth when gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun. Atmospheric CO2 has increased significantly due to industrial activities.
Greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases
Thermal stratification
Due to water density difference in water column and resistance to mixing. There are three zones: Epilimnion, thermocline, and hypolimnion
Epilimnion
Upper region, warmer and less dense (wind-driven). More dissolved oxygen in this layer
Thermocline (metalimnion)
Decrease in water temperature, no mixing here
Hypolimnion
Bottom region that’s cooler and denser. Little dissolved oxygen in this layer.
Thermal stratification in different seasons (seasonal turnover)
Spring: overturn with wind (mixing of all layers)
Summer: Three layers separate. Mixing only in the top and bottom layers
Autumn: overturn with wind (mixing of all layers)
Winter: ice on surface of water, beneath it is 0 degrees C and then 4 degrees C all the way down where this little effective circulation
Thermal stratification in a fishpond
Thermal stratification can develop in fishponds due to rapid heating of surface waters on clam, sunny days. Surface algae use the solar radiation from the sun for photosynthesis, allowing the harmful algae blooms to thrive. Fishponds de-stratify at night when the upper layers cool by conduction
Ice
Less dense and acts as a barrier in the winter. Decreased dissolved oxygen when there is an ice layer, so can kill fish
