Unit D.2 Global systems & the Transfer of Energy through the Biosphere Flashcards
Solar Radiation
Energy that is transmitted in the form of electomagnetic radiation is called EMR or radiant energy.
Solar energy consists of radiant energy
Insolation
The amount of solar energy received by a region on the Earth’s surface.
What is the amount of insolation partly dependent on?
Latitude
Why does latitude affect the amount of insolation?
because the shape of the earth, and the tilt on its axis (angle of inclination) impacts the angle of
incidence of light as one moves away from the equator, as well as the amount of atmosphere that the radiation must pass through.
Which radiation wavelength have a greater tendency to hit atmospheric particles and gases and thus have a greater tendency to be reflected or absorbed before ever reaching the Earth’s surface, as compared to less energetic forms of EMR
shorter wavelengths like ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays
- the more particulate matter in the atmosphere, the less radiation that actually reaches the Earth’s surface.
Albedo
The percent of the solar radiation
that is reflected as compared to that
which is incident upon a surface is
referred to as the albedo of the
surface.
- often expressed in percentages or in decimal form
What has been known to increase the albedo of the atmosphere as a result of dust and ash spread over hundreds to thousands of kilometers
Volcanic eruptions
What is the Natural Greenhouse Effect
- absorbed radiation changes the kinetic energy of the particles that absorb it and increase their temperature
-energy is re-radiated into the atmosphere as inferred radiation (heat/thermal energy) - gases in the atmosphere are absorbed and re-radiate some of this heat energy back to the Earth’s surface
- this absorption of thermal energy by the atmosphere is known as the greenhouse effect
What is human enhanced greenhouse effect?
too many greenhouse gases can
result in increasing temperatures on Earth,
- the gases most involved in this process include, water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and dinitrogen monoxide (nitrous oxide).
Net Radiation Budget=
incoming radiation - outgoing radiation
For Earth to remain in homeostasis
(steady state) we need a net radiation
budget of zero.
What is the evidence of climate change?
decreased ice and snow cover in the Canadian
Arctic, an increase in the world’s ocean water levels and temperatures, the spread of desert
areas and severed weather-related disasters.
Calorimetry uses the principle of
heat lost=heat gained in order to determine transfer
coriolis effect
The deflection of any object from a straight line path due to the rotation of the Earth.
The coriolis effect impacts
- winds and ocean currents
- In the Northern Hemisphere objects turn right
and in the Southern Hemisphere they turn to the left.
What is Specific heat capacity?
It is the amount of energy needed per unit mass of a substance to increase its temperature by 1°C.
The formula for specific heat capacity calculations is
Q=mc^T
The c water used in Science 10 is 4.19 J/g ºC
Equivalent units are kJ/kgºC, J/gK or kJ/kgK!
Calculating H fus and H vap
Hfus = Q / n
(solid<―> liquid )
Hvap = Q / n (liquid <―> gas)
Hfus is the heat of fusion in kJ/mol
Hvap is the heat of vaporization in kJ/mol
Q is the quantity of thermal energy in kJ
n is the amount of the substance in mol
( recall: n = m / M)
What is the hydrological cycle?
Another means by which energy is transferred.
Evaporation and transpiration are both processes which absorb energy from the surroundings in order to change the bonding arrangement from water to water vapour.
Condensation, water from vapour to liquid, releases heat energy to the surrounding.
Precipitation returns water to a region, where
is may undergo the process of evaporation
once again.
Biomes
geographical region with a particular range of temperature and precipitation levels, and plants and animals that are adapted to those climatic conditions.
- biomes are open systems: energy flow in and out, matter can move in and out
Tundra Biome characteristics
Precipitation > 20 cm/year mostly as snow
average annual temp -15 to 5 degrees C
very short summer season
- lichens, mosses, sedges, woody shrubs
- ptarmigan, arctic fox, caribou, polar bear
Taiga
precipitation 40 - 100 cm/y
avg temp 4-14
cool summers, cold winters
- cone bearing evergreens, few lichens and mosses
-woodpeckers, rodent, rabbits, moose bear,
Deciduous Forest
precipitin 75-150 cm/year, avg temp 14- 27,well defined summer and winter seasons
- broad leaved deciduous trees, moss, lichee, ferns
- insects and birds, ground dwelling birds (turkey), squirrels, rabbits white tales deer, black bear
Grassland
precipitation 25-57/year, avg temp 4-30degrees, winter and summer seasons
- grassy regions with few or no trees
-northern grasslands referred to as prairie- winter and summer seasons, grasses, hawks, snakes, mice, rabbit, buffalo, antelope
- southern grassland referred to as savanna- wet season and dry season, scattered trees, insects birds, reptiles, elephants, giraffe cheetah lion
rainforest biome
richest diversity of plants and animals of all the bomes
over 200 cm rain /year, alway warm, plants grow year round
-broad leaved trees, evergreen or deciduous, vines rootless air plants,
-hummingbirds, parakeets, parrots, snakes, lizard, pca, armadillo, monkey
