Fate of Incoming Solar Radiation Flashcards
Scattered
Small dust particles and gas molecules in the atmosphere scatter some of this energy in all directions
Reflection
Light bounces back from an object at the same angle at which it encounters a surface with the same intensity
Albedo = fraction of total radiation that is reflected by a surface
Absorption
Gases are selective absorbers
N2 poor absorber
O2 and O3 efficient absorbers of UV
Water vapor efficient absorber of infrared
Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that occurs when greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap heat from the sun, warming the planet and making life possible
Differences in receipt of solar radiation
Latitude
Season
Time of day
Differences in characteristics of earth’s surface
Different surfaces absorb varying amounts of solar energy and in turn cause variations in temperature of air above
Land heats more rapidly and to higher temperatures than water, and it cools more rapidly and to lower temperatures than water
Altitude
Temperatures drop with altitude in the troposphere
Cloud cover and albedo
Clouds reflect heat
Snow and albedo (one reason mountain glaciers do not melt away in the summer)
Water changes of state (polarity of water)
Water is a polar molecule that has a postive side and a negative side
Oxygen pole is slightly negative
Hydrogen pole is slightly positive
Hydrogen bonding between molecules
Water is the only substance that naturally exists in earth as a solid (ice), liquid, and gas (water vapor)
Ice
Molecules are not free to move relative to each other
Vapour
Molecules acquires enough energy to break the remaining molecular attractions - molecules are widely spaced and are have a very energetic random motion
Liquid state
Molecules are still tightly packed but are moving fast enough that they slide past one another
