Seasonal and daily temperatures Flashcards
What controls seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations?
Variations in energy
What causes the seasons?
- The tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to the plane of it’s orbit around the sun.
- The elliptical path of the Earth brings it closer to the Sun mid winter
Where is the sun overhead mid-summer?
The Tropic of cancer
Where is the sun overhead mid-winter?
The Tropic of capricorn
Sunlight falling at an angle spreads over a larger area, so what does energy depend on?
Angle of illumination
What is the inverse square law of radiation?
At increasing distance d from a source of radiation, the energy passing through 1m^2 decreases as 1/d^2
How is energy transported from tropical regions to higher latitudes?
- Pattern of circulating ocean currents
- Mid-latitude cyclones and anti-cyclones
- Transfer of evaporated water from tropical regions
What is global climate influenced by?
Everything that influences energy balance
Does the Earth recieve the same solar Radiation each season?
Yes
What has been one of the main drivers of ice ages?
Eccentricity changes of the Earth’s orbit
What is daily variation in temperature controlled by?
The Earth’s rotation
Do temperatures decrease faster with height by day or by night?
By day
What do snow and ice do?
They insulate us against very cold ground temperatures
What are isotherms?
Lines of constant temperature
What do isotherms show?
The influence of land and sea on average temperatures across the Earth
What does nearby water do to the range of temperatures experienced?
It decreases the range of temperatures
What is specific heat capacity?
The amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1g of material by 1 degree celsius
What is latent heat?
The amount of heat energy needed to evaporate 1g of material or, more generally, to change its state at constant temp
What are different ways to measure temperature?
- Liquid-in-glass thermometer
- Ubiquitous digital thermometer
- Platinum resistance thermometers
What measuring devices must be protected form direct sunlight and rain?
Meterological thermometers, hygrometers and barometers
