The Sun: Origins of Energy, Weather, and Climate Flashcards
Module 1
What are two major players that control the rate of important chemical reactions like photosynthesis?
Heat and precipitation
What is the main source of energy on Earth?
Solar radiation
What is solar radiation comprised of?
Infrared radiation (heat), visible light, and ultraviolet light (UV)
Is Earth an open or closed system?
Earth is an open system that allows energy to come and go
What balances out the solar radiation entering Earth?
Infrared radiation is reflected into space
Change of energy =
+solar inputs - thermal outputs
Name some Greenhouse gases. What do these gases do?
Water vapor (H2O), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O). They absorb the infrared radiation that is reflected by Earth and reradiate it back.
Where does the planet get the highest solar radiation and where does it get the lowest?
Solar radiation is highest at the equator due to it being closer to the sun. The poles get the lowest solar radiation since they are the farthest from the sun.
What are some methods of heat redistrbution?
Conduction: transfer of heat via direct contact
Convection: transfer of heat via liquids or air
What is atmospheric pressure?
the force of air on other air molecules and the surface that surround it
When air rises, is the air pressure low or high on Earth’s surface? At the equator, is there high or low air pressure, why?
Low
At the equator, there is low air pressure because warm air is rising = “Low Pressure Tropics”
What is uplift?
Warm air is less dense than cold air and therefore rises.
Define a Hadley Cell
Warm air rises at the equator (0 degrees) and heads towards the North or South pole. The air gradually cools and eventually becomes dense and sinks back to the ground (around 30 degrees N/S). The air then moves back towards the equator where it warms again. The cycle continues forming the Hadley Cell.
What is subsidence?
When dense, cold air sinks
Define a Polar Cell
Near the poles, the cold dense air heading towards the pole drops and heads back to the low pressure at the equator. It then warms and rises where it heads back towards the pole.
Define a Ferrell Cell
These cells occur between Hadley and Polar Cells. They reflect the other two cells.
What are the three major climate zones?
The Tropical Zone: 0 degrees to +/- 30 degrees - this zone is created by Hadley Cells
The Polar Zone: occurs near the poles - this zone is created by Polar Cells
The Temperate Zone: +/- 30 degrees to +/- 75 degrees - this zone is created by Ferrell Cells
What is the Coriolis Effect?
the rotation of the Earth effects the winds
How are the ocean currents determined?
dominant wind direction, shape of continents, and ice
What is the biggest energy distribution current in the ocean called?
The Great Global Conveyor Belt
What is upwelling?
cold water rising due to being close to land (negative pressure)
Define the orographic effect.
when rain occurs on on side of a mountain and the other side sees little precipitation
What’s the difference between weather and climate?
weather is short term changes such as precipitation and temperature
climate is long term patterns in weather including seasons
What does ENSO stand for and what does it mean?
El Nino-Southern Oscillation
a climate pattern including a periodic change in sea surface temperature
What are stabilizing processes?
processes that weaken effects of the external variables
Define evapotranspiration vs evaporative cooling?
Evapotranspiration is when water is lost by it’s movement in plants
evaporative cooling is when evaporation cools the air since energy is absorbed
What is albedo?
how much a surface reflects solar radiation based on it’s color - light surfaces have the highest albedo
Compare a negative feedback loop to a positive feedback loop.
a negative feedback is a stabilizing feedback where processes weaken external pressures
a positive feedback is a destabilizing feedback where processes strengthen external pressures
