Introduction to Earth Flashcards
What is the shape of the Earth’s rotation around the sun?
an ellipse.
what is the point when the Earth is farthest from the Sun?
the aphelion at 152,100,000km.
what is the point when the Earth is closest to the sun?
the perihelion at 147,100,000km
what is solar altitude and how does one measure it?
solar altitude is the measurement of 90 degrees and the difference between solar declination of that season and the latitude of the location in question.
what are the characteristics of the March equinox?
latitude in degrees of vertical rays of the sun: 0
day length at the equator: 12 hours
day length in north midlats: 12 hours
day length of south midlats: 12 hours
locations of 24 hour daylight or: nowhere
locations of 24 hour darkness: nowhere
season in north hem: spring
season in south hem: fall.
what is arc distance
this term encapsulates the difference between the latitude of a given point and the declination of the sun to the north or south.
what are the characteristics of the june solstice?
latitude in degrees of vertical rays of the sun: 23.5N
day length at the equator: 12 hours
day length in north midlats: longer days the higher the latitude
day length of south midlats: shorter days the larger the latitude
locations of 24 hour daylight or: from arctic circle to north pole
locations of 24 hour darkness: from antarctic circle to south pole
season in north hem: summer
season in south hem: winter
what are the characteristics of the september equinox?
latitude in degrees of vertical rays of the sun: 0
day length at the equator: 12 hours
day length in north midlats: 12 hours
day length of south midlats: 12 hours
locations of 24 hour daylight or: nowhere
locations of 24 hour darkness: nowhere
season in north hem: fall
season in south hem: spring.
what are the characterisics of the december solstice?
latitude in degrees of vertical rays of the sun: 23.5S
day length at the equator: 12 hours
day length in north midlats: shorter days the higher the latitude
day length of south
midlats: longer days the larger the latitude
locations of 24 hour daylight: from antarctic circle to south pole
locations of 24 hour darkness: from arctic circle to north pole
season in north hem: winter
season in south hem: summer
what is the angle of incidence?
the angle at which rays strike the earth’s surface
how does the angle of incidence influence seasonal changes in solar energy at different latitudes?
determines the intensity of radiation on any particular spot on the earth’s surface based on whether a sun ray strikes the area directly or obliquely.
how does day length influence seasonal changes in solar energy at different latitudes?
this seasonal difference determines the duration a surface of the earth receives sunlight, shich significantly effects midaltitude and polar regions.
how do atmospheric effects influence seasonal changes in solar energy at different latitudes.
absorption and scattering of sun rays by atmospheric particles influence the amout and quality of energy that reaches earth’s surface.
what is the angle of incidence of a sun ray striking the earth’s vertically?
90 degrees.
what is polarity?
the quality of the earth’s axis always pointing in the same direction relative to the stars.
