Chapter 3 Flashcards
(125 cards)
1
Q
Energy
A
Capacity to do work, occurs in radiation and heat
2
Q
Circulation of atmosphere plays role in determining
A
Weather and its temporal and spatial variability (climate)
3
Q
Law of energy conservation
A
Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, but it can be converted from one form to another
4
Q
What drives circulation of atmosphere, powering winds and storms
A
Radiant energy from the sun
5
Q
How does the earth respond to solar heating
A
The earths atmosphere emits infrared radiation which is then absorbed by certain atmospheric gases that then emit infrared radiation. downward, increasing temp of troposphere and surface that makes life possible (Greenhouse effect)
6
Q
Electromagnetic radiation
A
Radiation that has both electrical and magnetic properties
7
Q
All objects-
A
Absorb and emit electromagnetic radiation
8
Q
Electromagnetic spectrum
A
Various forms of electromagnetic radiation distinguished by wavelengths
9
Q
Electromagnetic spectrum (list from short wavelength to long)
A
Ultraviolet radiation
infrared
microwave
Visible light
Radio waves
10
Q
How does electromagnetic radiation travel?
A
As waves differentiated by wavelength or frequency
11
Q
Wavelength
A
distance between successive wave crests (troughs)
12
Q
Wave frequency
A
The number of crests or troughs passing a given point in specified period of time
13
Q
One complete wave is
A
a cycle
14
Q
Wave frequency is inversely proportional to
A
Wavelength
15
Q
The higher the frequency,
A
The shorter the wavelength
16
Q
Higher frequency radiation with shorter wavelengths has
A
Higher energy levels than lower frequency (longer wavelength) radiation
17
Q
An example of Law of Energy Conservation
A
Solar energy can be converted to heat by the earth
18
Q
Wavelength is commonly called
A
The speed of light
19
Q
As wavelength increases
A
Wave frequency decreases
20
Q
As wavelength decreases
A
Wave frequency increases
21
Q
Electromagnetic waves may travel through
A
solids liquids and gases
22
Q
Used for radio communications (weather radio)
A
Microwave radiation
23
Q
radiation on electromagnetic spectrum that generates heat and important for greenhouse effect
A
Infrared
24
Q
Portion of electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human eye
A
Visible radiation
25
Shorter wave lengths is
More energetic than longer wavelengths bc of higher frequency
26
When electromagnetic radiation passed from one medium to another it may be (2)
Reflected/refracted- upward to the atmosphere/bent downward
Absorbed- converted to heat
27
Blackbody
A material that absorbs all radiation received and emits all absorbed at constant temp
28
A blackbody must emit all radiation it receives in order to
Stay at thermal equilibrium
29
Example of material that is a blackbody for infrared radiation
Fresh snow (absorbs and emits all I fared radiation it receives)
30
What reflects most of visible light it receives
Fresh snow
31
Sun and earth are not perfect black bodies, but black body laws can be applied to them because
Their absorption and emissions of radiation are close enough to a blackbody
32
Wien’s displacement law
All known objects emit and absorb forms of electromagnetic radiation
33
In Wien’s displacement law, the wavelength of the most intense radiation emitted by a blackbody is
Inversely proportional to the absolute temperature
34
In Wien’s displacement law, the hotter the object,
The shorter the wavelength of maximum emission
35
In Wien’s displacement law, as the temperature decreases
The peak wavelength increases
36
In Wien’s displacement law, temperature and wavelength are
Inversely proportional,
As temp decreases, wavelength increases
As temp increases, wavelength decreases
37
In Wien’s displacement law, as temperatures decrease, intensity
Also decreases
38
Stefan-Boltzmann Law
Total energy flux emitted by a blackboard across all wavelengths is proportional to the 4th power of its absolute temperature
39
In Stefan-Boltzmann law, as temp increases
So does the total amount of energy per unit area emitted by an object
40
In Stefan-boltzmann law, hotter objects
Emit more total energy than colder
41
In Stefan Boltzmann law, a small change in temperature of the blackbody results in
A much larger change in total amount of radiation emitted
42
Inverse square law
Doubling the distance traveled by radiation reduces its intensity by 1/4 of its initial value
43
In the Inverse Law, When intensity of radiation moves away from source it,
Diminishes rapidly, decreases
44
The sun is mainly made of
Hydrogen (80% by mass) and helium
45
The sun source of energy is
Nuclear fusion
46
An example of the law of energy conservation
Global radioactive equilibrium
47
Global radiative equilibrium
The total energy (solar radiation), absorbed by earth is essentially equal to the total energy emitted by the earth to space (in form of infrared (heat) radiation)
48
Characteristics of earth and its movements
It is spherical
Rotates on an axis (day and night)
Orbits the sun (years
Tilted on an axis
49
What does the shape and movement of the earth mean for solar energy
Amount of solar energy reaching earth varies by hour location and season
50
Earth’s rotation gives us
Day and night
51
What is solar altitude
The angle of the sun above the horizon varying by time of day
52
Solar radiation directly overhead concentrates
Solar energy in a small area
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Solar radiation at an angle
Spreads solar energy over larger areas
54
The earth is sphere so solar altitude
Varies by location
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Low latitudes are where and receive
Are near the equator and receive solar energy at a more direct angle
56
As you move away from earths equator , intensity of solar energy striking earth
Decreases as you move away
57
As the angle where light beams strike move from the equator
The concentration of energy hitting the earth decreases, providing less heat
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What is the angle of incidence
Angle at which solar energy hits earth
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A low angle of incidence means
Energy has to travel through more of earths atmosphere
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What does the low angle of incidence allow
For more scattering , reflection and absorption before the energy hits the surface of the earth
61
Energy by earth is absorbed less at the ——and more at the—-
Poles, equator
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Earths tilt cause the location of most intense solar energy striking earth to vary over
The year
63
What does the earths tilt bring us?
Seasons
64
Drastic seasonal and day length difference depend on
How far you are from the equator
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The further you are from the equator
The more drastic seasonal variations will be
66
When the North Pole tilts to the sun
The northern hemisphere receives more solar radiation
Brings summer and spring to n. Hemisphere
67
When North Pole is tilted away from the sun
Northern hemisphere will receive less solar radiation
Results in fall and winter in northern hemisphere
68
Winter solstice and date
N. Hemisphere is tilted away from sun
December 21
69
Summer solstice and date
N. Hemisphere is tilted toward sun
June 21
70
Tropic of Cancer
23.5 N latitude , beginning of N. Hemisphere summer (June 21 solstice)
71
Tropic of Capricorn
23.5 S latitude of N. Hemisphere, beginning of n. Hemisphere winter (December 21 solstices)
72
September equinox
Sun overhead the equator at 0 degrees latitude, begins N. Hemisphere fall
73
March 21 equinox
Sun overhead equator at 0 degrees latitude,
| Begins N. Hemisphere spring
74
Why do seasons change
Because earth’ equationalplane is inclined to its orbital plane
75
When it is winter in the N. Hemisphere it is——in the Southern Hemisphere
Summer
76
When the Southern Hemisphere is in Summer, the Southern Hemisphere is
Tilted toward from the sun
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Days in winter solstice in N. Hemisphere are
Shorter than nights everywhere north of equator
78
Days in summer solstice in N. Hemisphere are
Longer than nights everywhere N. Of equator
79
The closer you are to the equator, there is
Less amount of daylight and solar energy varies throughout year
80
Locations near the equator have
Minimal difference in season
81
Solar Constant
Rate at which solar radiation falls on a unit area of a flat surface located at outer edge of atmosphere
82
The solar energy input into the earth atmosphere system is based on
Solar constant
83
Maximum solar energy input when earth is closest to the sun
Perihelion
84
Minimum solar energy input when earth is farthest from the sun
Aphelion
85
5 ways solar radiation enters our atmosphere
Absorbed, scattered or reflected (by gases and aerosols in our atmosphere or by surface of earth
86
Absorption
Solar radiation is absorbed in atmosphere and some by earth, converts radiation to heat
87
What happens to solar radiation that does not make it into troposphere ,What radiation is this most likely to be
Absorbed by Ozone layer in the stratosphere (radiation is UV radiation)
88
“Good up higher, bad near by”
Ozone
89
Ozone is good in the stratosphere but a ——in the troposphere
A pollutant
90
What is thinning the ozone layer
CFCs
91
CFC
Chemicals that are used in refrigerants and aerosols, break apart ozone molecules
92
Montreal protocol
Used to regulate CFCs, has been effective in slowing the ozone hole
93
Types of chemicals that threaten the ozone
Nitrous oxide, methane, and water vapor
94
In terms of the chemicals that harm the ozone, what does uv radiation do to further threaten the ozone?
Breaks down those chemicals to form radicals like nitrogen dioxide and chlorine monoxide that destroys ozone further
95
Scatteri ng
Particles and gases spread solar radiation
96
What scatters visible radiation equally at all wavelengths so clouds appear white
Water and ice droplets
97
Scattering of blue-violet light is by —-that make
Gasses, the sky blue in color
98
Scatter the sun light, giving sky a milky appearance
Aerosols
99
Special case of scattering
Reflection
100
Reflection
Interface striking that area is redirected
101
When you think of albedo you think of
Reflection
102
Albedo is
The fraction of radiation by airborne particles or reflected by a surface
103
Surface with high albedo will
Reflect more light
104
Albedo is (equation)
Reflected radiation/incident radiation
105
Surface areas with high albedo will have a greater —-than—-
Reflection of radiation, incident radiation
106
Materials with high albedo are more——than low because
Cooler, they reflect more radiation than they absorb
107
What albedo do clouds have
High
108
Global average of oceanic albedo is (in percentage)
8%
109
How much the earths atmosphere scatters/reflects back to space is its
Planetary albedo
110
Earths planetary albedo reflects/scatters about —% of solar reception back to space
30%
111
Examples of changes by Earths planetary albedo
Plants die/ lose leaves
Lakes/rivers freezing over and melting
Snow falling and melting
112
-% of solar radiation is reflected by earth atmosphere system
30
113
-% of solar radiation is absorbed by atmosphere
23
114
-% of solar radiation is absorbed by earths surface
47
115
What is the earths main source of heat for the atmosphere
The earths surface
116
Most of radiation emitted by earth is
IR radiation
117
What happens in troposphere when earth emits Ir radiation as heat. What causes this
Some of the eBay is trapped because of the greenhouse effect
118
What is the greenhouse effect
The heating of the earths surface and troposphere by strong absorption and emission of iR by greenhouse gases
119
What would happen to earth without the greenhouse effect
It would be too cold to inhabit
120
The moon as an example without greenhouse effect
The moon absorbs radiation and emits it but because it doesn’t have an atmosphere to trap radiation emitted, it’s surface stays cold
121
Primary greenhouse gases (list by most concentrated)
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
Ozone
Methane
(The grace gases)
122
Atmospheric Windows
Allows radiation to pass into space with little to no absorption by the atmosphere
123
A pyanometer
Measures intensity of solar radiation that strikes a horizontal surface (at earths surface)
124
These measure incoming radiation above the atmosphere and determines solar constant
Satellite
125
Infrared radio eter
Measures intensity of infrared radiation emitted by surface of some objects (land, cloud, ocean)
