Ch. 2 Temperature and Cloud Formation Flashcards
What is radiation?
emmision of energy
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
a range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation
Group types of radiation?
Radio, micro, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma
What role does temperature play in the amount and type of radiation emitted by any object?
The more radiation given off, the higher the temperature
Why is the sun hotter than the Earth?
The sun gives off visible light, UV, and short wavelength infrared. The Earth gives off long wavelength infrared.
How does our atmosphere interact with radiation from the sun?
The surface of the atmosphere is warmed
What is the difference between ‘transmission’, ‘reflection, and ‘absorption’ of radiation?
Some radiation is transmitted through our atmosphere, reflected or absorbed
How does earth’s atmosphere differ from the surface in terms of how each interacts with solar radiation?
The earth both absorbs and reflects solar radiation. A lot having to do with the greenhouse effect
What are ‘greenhouse’ gases and how do they influence the escape of terrestrial radiation?
Gases that absorb infrared radiation. The escape of terrestrial radiaion is slowed by Earth’s atmosphere
What is the relationship
between the angle at which solar radiation strikes earth’s surface and the amount of energy absorbed?
The higher the angle of radiation, the more energy is absorbed.
What is
‘insolation’ and what factors control insolation values?
Insolation is a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area and recorded during a given time. Factors include angle of incoming radiatoin and tilt of earth
What is the subsolar point?
the point at which the sun hits at local noon
What is local noon?
the point in the day where sun is directly over earth
How do changes in
insolation values affect daily temperatures?
The higher the insolation value, the warmer the temperature, the lower the insolation value, the cooler the temperature
What is the significance of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn in
terms of seasonal insolation values?
The insolation values are higher at tropics because the sun hits the at a steeper angle
What factors are the dominant controls on seasonal changes in
temperature?
The tilt of the earth
Why are Earth’s polar regions generally cooler than its tropical regions?
The polar regions don’t get the same levels of incoming radiation because of the way the Earth is tilted
What is meant by air pressure?
how dense the air is
What role does altitude play in controlling temperature and why?
The higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure. The higer the air pressure, the warmer the air
What factors contain daily variations in temperatures?
Changing insolation values, changing angle of incoming solar radiation, presence or absence of clouds, movement of air from polar and tropics
What factors control annual temperature changes?
changing insolaion values, changing angle of incoming radiation, length of day and night, solstice, equinox, and subsolar point
What factors control long term temperature changes (climate)?
greenhouse gases
What is the largest reservior of water on this Earth?
Lake Kariba - 43 cubic miles (180 km³) in Zambia and Zimbabwe
Largest reservoir of fresh water?
groundwater
