Temperature and Heating Flashcards
Temperature definition
Average kinetic energy of atoms or molecules
Celsius to Kelvin conversion
K = C + 273
How is surface air temperature measured?
Stevenson’s Screen, situated 4ft/1.2m above the ground
How is upper air temperature, pressure and humidity measured?
Radiosonde
What types of radiation produces the most and least heating?
Short wavelengths provides the most intense radiation (hotter)
Long wavelengths provide less intense radiation (colder)
What is insolation?
The Suns rays heating the earths surface
How does latitude effect insolation?
Higher latitudes mean the same amount of energy is covering a larger area, therefore less intense insolation
What is the location of the ITCZ in the summer?
North of the equator
What is the location of the ITCZ in the winter?
South of the equator
What is the ITCZ?
Location of maximum heating on earth
What disrupts solar radiation reaching the surface?
Absorption by Ozone and water vapour
Reflection by the tops of clouds and the earths surface
Scattering by particles in the earths atmosphere
What % of the suns solar radiation reaches the earths surface?
85%
What is Albedo?
A materials ability to reflect solar radiation
What is conduction?
Energy transfer by contact
What is convection?
Energy transfer by the vertical movement of air
What is advection?
Energy transfer by the horizontal movement of air
What is the release of latent heat?
Energy transfer when condensation takes place
Energy is absorbed or released when water vapour changes state
What is radiation?
Energy transfer by the absorption of long wave terrestrial radiation
What is turbulence?
Energy transfer by mixing of air caused by turbulence
When is latent heat released?
Vapour to liquid, liquid to solid, vapour to solid
Cooling processes
When is latent heat absorbed?
Solid to liquid, liquid to vapour, solid to vapour
Heating processes
What is diurnal variation?
Variation of the surface temperature over a 24 hour period
What time is the minimum temperature?
30 minutes after sunrise
What time is the maximum temperature?
Approximately 1500
How do clouds effect diurnal variation?
Reduce it, don’t let as much heat in during the day, don’t let heat out over night
How does wind effect diurnal variation?
Reduce it, turbulent air mixes warmer and cooler air masses
What is a temperature inversion?
When temperature increases with height, rather than decreasing with height
What are the 5 different types of temperature inversion?
Ground inversion Valley inversion Frontal inversion Subsidence inversion Friction layer inversion
What is the biggest danger associated with inversion?
Windshear
