Module 3

Question 1

What’s the difference between shortwave and longwave radiation?

Answer 1

Shortwave radiation is emitted by hot objects. This includes gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, and your infrared

Long wave radiation is admitted by ”cooler” objects. Includes the thermal infrared part of the spectrum

Question 2

Define the term solar constant.

Answer 2

Amount of solar radiation received at the top of the earths atmosphere, at right angles to the sun, is constant

Solar constant = 1367 W/m2

Question 3

Explain Wein’s displacement law, a principle of electromagnetic radiation

Answer 3

All objects radiate energy and wave links related to their surface temperatures: the hotter the object, the shorter than mean wavelength of maximum intensity emitted

Question 4

Explain the principle of electromagnetic radiation: Stefan-Boltzmann law

Answer 4

Hotter objects email more radiation than cooler ones. Earth Emits much less radiation than the sun. Small temperature increases result in large increases in emitted radiation.

Question 5

Explain the composition of the troposphere.

Answer 5

The troposphere is from earth surface to an average altitude of 12 km. It makes up 90% mass of the atmosphere. The tropopause is at -57°C; 18 km near the equator, 12 km mid latitude, 8 km near poles. This is the zone where most weather phenomenon occurs and it contains majority of non-marine organisms in the biosphere.

Question 6

Describe the thermal structures in the troposphere.

Answer 6

A temperature inversion is produced whenever radiation from the surface of the earth (long wave) exceeds the amount of radiation received from the sun (shortwave)

Question 7

Describe the composition and thermal structure of the stratosphere.

Answer 7

18 km to 50 km altitude. stratopause located at an altitude of 50 km or -5°C. Contains ozone layer that absorbs UV radiation temperature increases with altitude because of the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer
Is Located after the tropopause

Question 8

What is the environmental lapse rate?

Answer 8

Troposphere is warmed from its base by long wave radiation. Temperature decreases with altitude:This is the environmental labs rate. Average cooling rate of 6.5°C per kilometre

Question 9

Describe the various components of the radiation balance for shortwave radiation

Answer 9

21% reflected the space by clouds, 3% reflected by surface, 7% scattered to space by dust, 3% absorbed by clouds, 3% absorbed by AutoZone, 18% absorbed directly by atmosphere, 20% reflected radiation down to earth or indirect radiation, 25% direct radiation reaching earth. 31% total reflectivity or albedo of Earth

Total short wave energy absorbed by earth in someway is about 69%

Question 10

Describe the various components of the radiation balance for long wave radiation

Answer 10

21% radiated by atmosphere, 45% radiated by surface, 3% radiated by Ozona, 3% greenhouse effect. Total long wave energy lost by Earth space in some way is equal to 69%

Question 11

What’s the difference between direct and indirect radiation?

Answer 11

Direct radiation is the uninterrupted flow of incoming radiation that reaches earth, amounts to 25%. Remaining 75% is subject to absorption, reflection, scattering, and refraction.

Indirect radiation, or diffusion, is radiation redirected towards the surface.

Question 12

What is reflection and its relationship to albedo?

Answer 12

Reflection is that portion of incoming radiation that bounces directly back into space without being absorbed or performing any work.

Albedo is the ratio of reflected solar radiation short wave to the incoming shortwave radiation

Question 13

Explain the process of scattering and Rayleighs scattering rule.

Answer 13

Scattering changing direction of light movement, without altering the wavelengths

Scattering rule: the shorter the wavelength, the greater the scattering, the longer the wavelength, the less scattering.
This gives the atmosphere it’s blue colour

Question 14

What is counter radiation?

Answer 14

Long wave radiation emitted from atmosphere and earth surface

Question 15

Define heat capacity.

Answer 15

Specific heat is heat capacity of a substance. High specific heat; amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1°C
Or
Heat capacity is a physical property of matter, defined as the amount of heat to be supplied to a given mass of a material to produce a unit change in the temperature.Joule per kelvin

Question 16

What a fax to the changes in elevation in the stratosphere have an air temperature?

Answer 16

Temperature increases with altitude because of the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer

Question 17

What affect did changes in elevation in the mesosphere have on air temperature?

Answer 17

Temperature decreases with altitude

Question 18

What effect do changes in elevation in the thermosphere have an air temperature?

Answer 18

Solar radiation interacts with oxygen molecules; temperature increases with altitude

Question 19

What are the five principal air temperature controls?

Answer 19

Latitude, seasons and length of day, altitude/elevation, cloud cover, and Maritime versus Continental locations

Question 20

What Affect does latitude have an air temperatures?

Answer 20

From equator to poles, earth ranges from continually warm, to seasonally variable, to continually cold.
Relates to annual variation in the angle of incidence of sun’s rays and day length.

Question 21

Describe the relationship between time of day and air temperatures.

Answer 21

Sunrise and sunset: low angle of incidence, low insulation. Solar noon: high angle of incidence, high insulation.

Angle of incidence varies in the seasons. Low angle of incidence in the winter, high angle in the summer.

Question 22

What is a temporal lag?

Answer 22

In regards to time of day and air temperatures: occurs between highest angle of incidence and warmest temperature of the day

Question 23

Describe the relationship between altitude and air temperature.

Answer 23

Temperature decreases with increasing altitude due to the environmental lapse rate. Air density decreases with increase in altitude; thin air has a low capacity to absorb radiation and generate sensible heat.

Question 24

Describe the relationship between cloud cover and air temperatures.

Answer 24

Clouds absorb and scatter insulation; albedo of 21%. Moderate air temperatures: cooler days, warmer nights

Question 25

Describe the land water heating difference.

Note: there are four points

Answer 25

Evaporation is higher overwater surfaces; latent heat exchange between surface and atmosphere.
Transparency affects transmission of solar radiation, solar radiation penetrates too much greater depths in water that in soil and rock.
Specific heat is heat capacity of a substance; water has a higher specific heat then soil or rock, so water heats or cools more slowly.
And movement increasing mixing and reduce temperature differences in water

Question 26

What are the effects on temperature in Maritime versus Continental locations?

Answer 26

Marine or maritime affect describes locations that exhibit the moderating influences of the ocean, usually along coastlines or on islands.
Continental effect refers to areas less affected by the sea and therefore having a greater range between maximum and minimum temperatures on both a daily and yearly basis.
Note: this is due to the land water heating differences