Chapter 4 Flashcards
HEAT
the flow of kinetic energy between molecules from one body or substance to another resulting from a temperature difference between them
Types of Heat Energy
Latent Heat
Sensible Heat
Latent Heat
Energy gained or lost (absorbed or released) when a substance (ice, water or water vapour) changes states.
Sensible Heat
Measure of the concentration kinetic energy from molecular motion.
(i.e temperature - measured by a thermometer)
Methods of Heat Transfer
- Radiation
- Conduction
- Convection
- Advection
RADIATION
Transfer of heat energy in electromagnetic waves.
sun to Earth, fire, stove
CONDUCTION
Molecule to molecule transfer of heat energy.
- diffuses through a substance
- involves a certain amount of resistance, with energy lost as it travels through
CONVECTION
Vertical transfer of heat energy by the mass of a substance via mixing or circulation of gases and liquids.
- hot, less dense matter rises.
- cooler, denser matter sinks
ADVECTION
Horizontal transfer of heat energy via mixing or circulation of gases and liquids.
(Latent heat) Heat energy is ABSORBED as the latent heat of melting, vaporization, or evaporation.
MELTING
VAPORIZATION
EVAPORATION
(Latent heat) Heat energy is RELEASED as the latent heat of ____________
CONDENSATION
FREEZING
FUSION
Kinetic Energy
Energy of motion produced by vibration energy of molecules.
The intensity of that movement is measured as temperature.
Potential Energy
Stored energy (either due to composition or position)
Diffuse Radiation
Insolation reaching Earth’s surface after being scattered by clouds and/or the atmosphere.
Diffuse Radiation
Insolation reaching Earth’s surface after scattering.
Why does the Sahara desert have a negative net radiation?
Because there are no clouds.
Why does the Sahara desert have a negative net radiation?
Because there are no clouds.
Clouds reflect ____
shortwave radiation
Clouds absorb ____
longwave radiation
Absorption
The assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter, converting the radiation from one form of energy to another.
Longwave radiation is absorbed in the atmosphere by:
carbon dioxide water vapour methane nitrous oxide chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Transmission
Refers to the uninterrupted passage of shortwave and longwave energy through either the atmosphere or water.
Albedo
The reflective quality of a surface. Expressed as the percentage of reflected insolation to incoming insolation.
Shortwave Radiation Inputs
Ultraviolet light
Visible light
Near-infrared wavelengths
Longwave Radiation Outputs
Thermal Infrared
What happens to incoming radiation? (4)
Reflection
Scattering
Refraction
Absorption
Refraction
Bending of light resulting from a change in medium.
Insolation entering the atmosphere changes mediums. this causes a shift in speed and causes the light to bend (shift direction).
Energy budget between the tropics
energy surplus
Energy budget between at the poles
energy deficits
Energy deficits occur at the
poles
Energy surpluses occur at the
between the tropics
Boundary layer
the lower atmosphere at the Earth’s surface where energy and moisture are continually exchanged
Net radiation
the sum of all radiation gains and losses
- positive during the day
- negative during the night
Incoming shortwave radiation is absorbed by:
Nitrogen Oxygen Ozone Carbon Dioxide Water Vapour
in the atmosphere
Imbalance in energy is resolved by (3)
Atmospheric circulations
Oceanic circulations
Dynamic weather systems
Earth’s Average Albedo
31%
Solar energy is absorbed by…
Land and water surfaces Atmospheric gases Dust Clouds Stratospheric ozone
Jet contrails create…
condensation trails that produce high cirrus clouds, which trap more radiation than it reflects.
Longwave radiation is absorbed in the atmosphere by:
carbon dioxide water vapour methane nitrous oxide chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
The Greenhouse Effect
Carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, and other gases in the lower atmosphere absorb infrared radiation that is then emitted to Earth, thus delaying energy loss to space—this process is the greenhouse effect.
Why is the sky blue?
- Violet and blue light: shorter wavelengths (scatter first)
- Red and yellow light: longest wavelength (travels the farthest)
- when light hits a gas molecule in our atmosphere, it is absorbed
- high frequency blues and violets get absorbed more
- the gas molecule then radiates the light in different directions (colour that was radiated is the same colour that was absorbed)
(Raleigh scattering)
Why is the sunset red?
- when the sun sets its further away from you
- the path to get to your eyes is longer, therefore the chance of the longwave red and yellow light hitting gas molecules is higher
- the light also travels through the lower atmosphere, which has a greater concentration of particles
- these particles reflect the light that hit them
Mie Scattering
The larger particles in the atmosphere (larger than the wavelengths of light) cause the sky to appear white
(haze, pollution)
in a very hazy/polluted area, all wavelengths of light are scattered evenly, making the human eye perceive it as white
