MET - Temperature and Heating

Question 1

What factors influence Diurnal Temperature?

Answer 1

• Surface Type.
• Wind.
• Cloud Cover.

Question 2

What are the 6 types of transfer of heat?

Answer 2

1. Conduction: Transfer of heat by contact with surface.
2. Convection: Transfer of heat through vertical air movements.
3. Advection: Transfer of heat through horizontal air movements.
4. Latent heat: Transfer of heat though changes of state.
5. Turbulent: Transfer of heat through mixing of air flows.
6. Radiation: Transfer of heat through wavelengths.

Question 3

What type of wavelengths does Solar Radiation have?

Answer 3

Solar radiation has shorter wavelengths but higher frequencies, and is normally absorbed by the Earth.

Question 4

What type of wavelengths does Terrestrial radiation have?

Answer 4

It has long wavelengths but low frequency and is absorbed by the atmosphere.

Question 5

When we have clouds during the day and night, what does it mean?

Answer 5

Day: Clouds will reflect radiation meaning the surface of the Earth will be cooler.

Night: Clouds emit terrestrial radiation and therefore it is warmer during the night.

Question 6

Why are the sun rays stronger at the equator than at the poles?

Answer 6

The sun rays are normally stronger at the equator due to the Earths curvature, and so the sun rays are hitting directly onto the equator where as the sun rays have a larger area to hit in the poles and so the rays are weaker

Question 7

What is water like a surface type when absorbing/reflecting energy from the Sun?

Answer 7

Water needs a lot of energy to warm up, however it stores it and doesn’t emit quickly.

Question 8

When is it summer in the Southern Hemisphere?

Answer 8

21st December.

Question 9

How do you convert °C to Kelvin?

Answer 9

You would do 1°C + 273 which would equal 274 Kelvin.

So always add 273 when converting °C to Kelvin.

Question 10

What device is used to record the air temperature?

Answer 10

Radiosonde is used to record the air temperature.

It can measure:

• pressure
• temperature
• humidity

Question 11

What does it mean when a surface type has a high albedo?

Answer 11

This means that the surface type will reflect the Suns energy.

Question 12

What are the 5 types of inversion?

Answer 12

1. Ground Inversion: inversions that form on the ground, mostly at night and near a coastal area due to advection.
2. Valley Inversion: the air in the valley is colder than the air above.
3. Subsidence Inversion: Descending air warms faster than static air.
4. Frontal Inversion: Cold air slides under the warmer, lighter air.
5. Frontal Layer Inversion: Mixing of Air in the lower atmosphere.

Question 13

What does Solar Radiation reaching the Earth depend on?

Answer 13

1. Absorption - by the Ozone Layer & Water Vapour.
2. Reflection - by the clouds and Earth.
3. Scattering - particles in atmosphere.

Question 14

How much Solar Radiation reaches the Earths’ Surface?

Answer 14

85% of Solar Radiation reaches the Earths’ Surface.

Question 15

What four factors affect insolation?

Answer 15

• Seasons
• Latitude
• Surface type
• Reflectivity (Albedo)

Question 16

What is an inversion?

Answer 16

When the temperature increases with height.

Question 17

When is it summer in the Northern Hemisphere?

Answer 17

21st June.

Question 18

What device is used to record the surface air temperature?

Answer 18

The Stevenson’s Screen is used to record the surface air temperature, and it is situated 4m above the ground.

Question 19

What is temperature?

Answer 19

It is the measure of kinetic energy within molecules.

Question 20

What date is Perihelion, and Earths’ distance from the Sun?

Answer 20

Perihelion is on 4th January, and it’s when Earth is closest to the Sun. (91 million miles)

Question 21

How would we convert Kelvin to °C?

Answer 21

You would do 1K - 273 which equals -272°C

So always minus 273 when converting Kelvin to °C.

Question 22

When there are strong winds, how warm are days/nights?

Answer 22

Due to more mixing;

Days: cooler
Nights: warmer

Question 23

What date is Aphelion, and Earths’ distance to the Sun?

Answer 23

Aphelion is on 4th July, and it’s when Earth is furthest away from the Sun. (95 million miles)

Question 24

When there are light winds, how warm are the days/nights?

Answer 24

Due to less mixing;

Nights: cooler
Days: warmer