Insolation Flashcards
Sun continuously radiates heat in all directions— what is this act called
Solar radiation
Sun’s radiation is made up of 3 parts:
White light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation
Solar winds
Atomic particles emitted into space by sun
Most of particles of solar winds are?
Electrons
Solar wind charged electrons impact earth how?
Affect earth’s magnetic field
Energy needed for all movement and change on earth is provided by?
Sun
Insolation
Amount of solar energy received by earth
Why earth gets only one of two billion parts of sun’s energy?
Sun’s energy is dissipated and scattered before reaching earth
Sun’s energy reaches earth as what type of waves?
Short
Out of total 100% of insolation, how much reaches earth’s surface?
51%
Out of total 100% of insolation, how much is reflected back into space?
35%
Out of total 100% of insolation, how much is absorbed by atmosphere?
14%
Terrestrial radiation is in what type of waves?
Long waves
Terrestrial radiation
Heat radiated by earth in form of long waves
Heat balance or heat budget
State of equilibrium on earth between incoming insolation from sun and outgoing terrestrial radiation from earth
Earth has heat balance when considering worldwide average balance not location specific (which might be heat budget) why?
Low latitude areas receive more radiation than they lose and opposite happens at poles
Conduction of heat on earth
Heat radiated by earth’s surface warms layers of air above by direct contact
Convection of heat on earth
Transfer of heat by circulatory movement (usually of air and water on oceans)
What causes seabreeze?
Convection currents in the atmosphere
How does the atmosphere act like a blanket or a greenhouse and keep the earth warm and its temperature regulated?
True or false: distribution of temperature over the earth is uniform.
Temperature of atmosphere of a place depends on factors like
- winds and ocean currents
- latitude
- distance from the sea
- altitude
- slope of land
Temperature __________ with increase in latitude on either side of the equator. Why?
Decreases; Due to spherical shape of the earth and its annual revolution around the sun
“On this basis, the earth is divided into 5 temperature zones.” What basis?
Higher the latitude, colder the place
“On this basis, the earth is divided into 5 temperature zones.” What are the five temperature zones?
- torrid zone
- north temperate zone
- south temperate zone
- 2 frigid zones
Where is torrid zone?
Where is north temperate zone?
Where is south temperate zone?
Where are the 2 frigid zones?
Altitude
Height of a place above the mean sea level
Normal lapse rate of temperature
Rate of decrease of temperature with height is about 6°C per kilometre above the sea level (or 1°C per 166 m)
Seabreeze
Cool breeze that blows over the earth from the surrounding seas
Why is the Torrid zone hotter?
The sun’s rays which fall over the torrid zone travel shorter distance and heat up a smaller part of the surface area leading to higher temperature.
Why do the Sun’s rays travel longer distance beyond the torrid zone?
Inclined axis and revolution of earth on its axis (sphere shape of earth?)
The higher the altitude, the ____ the temperature
Lower
What is the main reason for decrease of temperature with height?
Atmosphere is heated from below. more by terrestrial radiation then by incoming solar radiation.
State the second more minor reason that the higher the altitude, the lower the temperature 
Air on the surface of the earth is denser and contains more carbon dioxide, water vapour, and other gases. Hence, its heat absorption capacity is more in the lower layers than in the upper layers where its density is less.
