Season Cycles of the Earth Flashcards
Define Revolution:
The Earth takes one year to “revolve” around the sun. (annually)
Define Rotation:
The Earth “rotates” on its axis daily
Define Declination:
The tilt the Earth sits on its axis. 23 degree
Define seasons:
Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to the plane of revolution
Define Perihelion:
Perihelion-closest to Sun Jan. 3rd
Define Aphelion:
Aphelion-farthest from Sun July 4th
Define Solar Altitude:
Sun’s height above the horizon
What season is experienced when, Vertical Sun is at the Tropic of Cancer.
summer solstice
What season is experienced when, Vertical Sun is at the Tropic of Capricorn.
Winter Solstice
Which seasons are experienced when Vertical (90o) Sun is at the equator.
Fall and Spring
Define seasons:
Seasons are the result of changing sun angle and length of daylight
Receipt of solar radiation is the largest factor in _ _ of various regions.
(correlates to daylight hours)
temperature difference
What direction is heat always always transferred?
from warmer to cooler
What are the three forms of heat transfer?
Conduction
Convectiion
Radiation
Define Conduction:
transfer is through molecular activity
Define Convection:
transfer through mass movement within a substance
Define Radiation:
transfers out from object
What are the 4 governed laws of radiation?
1) All objects, at whatever temperature, emit radiation
2) Hotter objects radiate more total energy per unit area than do cooler objects
3) The hotter the radiating body, the shorter the wavelength of maximum radiation
4) Objects that are good absorbers of radiation are good emitters as well
What are the three ways atmosphere effects solar radiation?
Reflection
Scattering
Absorption
Define Global Distribution of Heat Flow:
Tropics receives more energy than poles and Heat is transported from tropics to polar regions
