Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Weather And Climate > Insolation And Energy > Flashcards

Insolation And Energy Flashcards

1
Q

Why is there weather ?

A

Weather and climate are a result of temporal and spatial variability in the fluxes of energy to and from the atmospheric system.

Heat from the sun and movement of air - wind.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Name 4 types of energy that are important in the climate system?

A

Potential
Chemical
Kinetic
Thermal

They all have a role

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where does the earths energy primarily come from?

A

The sun - radiant energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a prominence ?

A

Large / Bright / gaseous feature extending outward from suns surface

Hottest area is white

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe what the sun is

A

Active ball of gas and plasma

700,000km radius

Temp drops away from core

Rotates -25 days near equator and 36 days near poles

Abundant hydrogen nuclei join together to form helium in centre

Source of electromagnetic radiation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the surrounding bit of the sun called ?

A

The corona

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the largest part of the sun called?

A

Convection xome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What zone in the sun is next to the core?

A

Radiation zone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Define electromagnetic radiation

A

The waves of the electromagnetic field radiating through space carrying radiant energy

Electric and magnetic fields are perpendicularly one another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How fast does electromagnetic radiation travel ?

A

Speed of light

300,000 kms-1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the wavelength of radiation measured in ?

A

Micrometers

Millionth of a metre

Um

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Give examples of electromagnetic radiation

A

Microwaves

Infrared

Visible light - UV

X rays

Gamma rays

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Define black body

A

A surface that absorbs all radiant energy falling on it

They radiate energy at a rate directly proportional to the 4th power of their temperature - stefan BM law

Energy is emitted from a black body across range of wavelengths

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Give an example of a black body

A

The sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the suns emissivity ?

A

1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Define emissivity

A

The effectiveness of a material in emitting energy as thermal energy - heat

17
Q

What is the stefan Boltzmann law

A

E = e o T4

E - energy radiated
e - emissivity 1 for the sun
o - stefan BM constant (5.67x10-8)
T - temperature

Only knowing the temperature of something you can work out how much EM radiation it will emit

18
Q

What is plancks law

A

Describes the spectral distribution of emitted energy by a black body

19
Q

What is weins law

A

Black body radiation curve for different temps will peak at different wavelengths

Higher temp = shorter the wavelength

20
Q

What happens to wavelength of black body as the temperature increases

A

The wavelength decreases - wiens law

21
Q

What is wiens Constant value

A

2897.79

22
Q

What is UV wavelength

A

<0.4 um

7%

23
Q

What is visible wavelength

A

0.4 - 0.7 um

44%

24
Q

What is near infrared wavelength

A

0.7 - 1.5 um

37%

25
Q

WhT is far infrared radiation ?

A

1.5> um

12%

26
Q

What is the temp of the sun

A

~6000 K

5726 degrees C

27
Q

What is the max wavelength of the sun

A

0.48 um

Range - 0-4.0 um

28
Q

What type of radiation does the sun emit

A

Incoming short radiation

29
Q

What is the temp of the earth

A

288 K

15 degrees C

30
Q

What is the max wavelength of the earth

A

10.06 um

Range 4- 24 um

31
Q

What is the emissivity of the earth

A

~0.64

32
Q

What radiation does earth emit ?

A

Outgoing long wave radiation

33
Q

Define insolation

A

Exposure to suns rays and the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area

Incoming solar radiation

34
Q

Name 4 things insolation is determined by

A

Angel of suns rays

Solar output

Sun earth distance

Day length

35
Q

How does the angle of the suns rays impact insolation

A

As area gets larger the light gets dimmer

This is why we have seasons

Summer - more direct over head
Winter - further away at polar regions

Short wave radiation increases with;
•Decreasing latitude.
•Temporal proximity to summer solstice
•solar angle in relation to surface slope

36
Q

When is the summer solstice

A

21 june

37
Q

What is the summer solstice

A

When the sun travels the longest path through the sky and that day has the most day light

Happens twice yearly - winter shortest day of year

38
Q

What is the tilt of the earths axis

A

23.4 degrees

Weather And Climate (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions