Factors Affecting Night Engery Budget

Question 1

SW radiation

Answer 1

Night has no Shortwave radiation as none is received from the sun.
Heat conducted into soil during the day, is radiated from the surface at night.

Question 2

LW Radiation

Answer 2

Amount escaping to space depends on cloud cover.
Clear Skies = Cold nights.
W/o clouds to stop radiation escaping at night, temp rapidly drops.
E.g. Deserts

Question 3

Latent Heat Tranasfer

Answer 3

having no wind is colder,as no warmer air is brought in.
When water vapour contacts a cold object it will condense.
During this condensation latent heat is released into the air.

Question 4

Influence of clouds

Answer 4

Thick cloud cover acts as a blanket, keeping low atmosphere warm.
Radiating and Re-radiating LW around the atmosphere.
Resulting in minimal difference between day and night.

Question 5

Global Energy Budget

Answer 5

This is balanced, meaning equal radiation is reflected and stored.
71% absorbed.