Climate, Surface Energy

Question 1

Net radiation (Q*)

Answer 1

The balance between incoming and outgoing energy at the top of the atmosphere. It is the total energy that is available to influence the climate

Question 2

Insolation

Answer 2

The solar radiation recieved by a given area

Question 3

Diurnal cycle

Answer 3

The surface is warmed by a positivie net radiation balance in the daytime, and cooled by a negative radiation balance at night

Question 4

Heat

Answer 4

Energy transferred along a temperature gradient

Question 5

What are the three types of heat flux?

Answer 5

1.Sensible
2. Latent
3. Ground heat

Question 6

Sensible heat flux

Answer 6

Heat that can be felt through the air

Question 7

Latent heat flux

Answer 7

Heat that is released or absorbed during state changes (condensation and evaporation)

Question 8

Ground heat flux

Answer 8

Heat that is generated from conduction either within the Earth or on its surface (positive during the day, negative during the night)

Question 9

What does surface energy budget determine?

Answer 9

Determines how much energy is available to evaporate water and moisten the atmosphere. This energy is redistributed across the globe by the atmosphere and oceans

Question 10

Equinox

Answer 10

Spring and Autumn Equinoxes which occur when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither towards or away from the Sun, resulting in an equal amount of daylight and darkness across all latitudes

Question 11

Solstice

Answer 11

Summer Solstice occurs when the Earth’s axis is tilted directly towards the Sun, resulting in longer periods of daylight (vice versa for Winter Solstice)

Question 12

What are the three impacts of axial tilt on the Earth and Sun’s relationship?

Answer 12

1. Daylight hours
2. Intensity of solar beam
3. Effective atmospheric depth