Section 2.1 - Energy Relationships & The Biosphere Flashcards
The ______ is the source of all energy on earth
Sun ☀️
______ energy that radiates from the sun contains many different types of radiation which are classified according to different wavelengths
Solar
The amount of this solar energy that is actually received on earth surface is called ______
Insolation
Insolation has many implications for climate on ______ parts of the earth
Different
The earth’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.5° from a line drawn perpendicular from its orbital plane. This is called the ______
Angle of inclination
The ______ of the earth changes the insulation at different parts of the earth at different times of the year
Tilt
A ______ is one of two points in earth’s orbit when the poles are most tilted towards or away from the sun
Solstice
An ______ is when the number of daylight hours is equal exactly is the number of hours of night
Equinox
The earth is divided into different ______ where 0° is at the equator and the poles are at 90°
Latitudes
Fact that the earth is shaped like a ______ has an affect on the insolation at different latitudes
Sphere
The ______ of a ray is the angle between the ray and a line that is drawn perpendicular to the earth’s surface
Angle of incidence
Areas near the poles receive ______ solar energy per square kilometer
Less
Areas near the equator receive ______ solar energy per square kilometre
More
*This obviously has major implications for the climate on different parts of the earth
Absorption and reflection of the sun’s ______ happens in all three parts of the biosphere (*model on PP)
Rays
In the atmosphere:
The types and amounts of radiation absorbed or affected is affected by:
- The ______ in the atmosphere: different layers contain different types and amounts of ______
- cloud ______ and atmospheric ______
Gases
Gases
Cover
Dust
In the lithosphere and atmosphere:
- The ______ of a surface is the percent of solar radiation that it reflects
- the average ______ for the earth’s surface is about 30%
Albedo
Albedo
When solar energy is absorbed in the earth’s surface some of it is re-emitted into the atmosphere in the form of ______
Infrared radiation
Infrared radiation is absorbed and stored by mainly ______ in the atmosphere
Water vapour
Without this ______ our average atmospheric temperature would be below 0°C
Natural greenhouse effect
Other greenhouse gases, some of them man-made, absorb and store thermal energy. These contribute to the ______
Artificial greenhouse effect
The net radiation budget is:
______ radiation - ______ radiation
Incoming
Outgoing
______ radiation is solar radiation that reaches the surface of the earth and isn’t reflected by the atmosphere
Incoming
______ radiation is thermal radiation that is re-emitted by the earth’s surface into space and is not absorbed by the greenhouse gases
Outgoing
For the entire planet, the energy budget is generally ______, which means incoming = outgoing, this keeps the average global temperature fairly ______
Balanced
Steady
The amount of energy absorbed and emitted changes with ______
Latitude
The polar regions tend have less incoming radiation (______ insolation) than outgoing radiation (______ albedo). This gives them a net radiation budget ______
Less
Higher
Deficit
Regions near the equator tend to have more incoming radiation (______insolation) than outgoing radiation (______ albedo). This gives them a net radiation budget ______
More
Lower
Surplus
The fact that earth is heated ______ means that the thermal energy moves throughout the atmosphere
Unevenly
Remember the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: “Heat always flows naturally from a ______ object to a ______ object.”
Hot
Cold
