Insolation

Question 1

Sun continuously radiates heat in all directions— what is this act called

Answer 1

Solar radiation

Question 2

Sun’s radiation is made up of 3 parts:

Answer 2

White light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation

Question 3

Solar winds

Answer 3

Atomic particles emitted into space by sun

Question 4

Most of particles of solar winds are?

Answer 4

Electrons

Question 5

Solar wind charged electrons impact earth how?

Answer 5

Affect earth’s magnetic field

Question 6

Energy needed for all movement and change on earth is provided by?

Answer 6

Sun

Question 7

Insolation

Answer 7

Amount of solar energy received by earth

Question 8

Why earth gets only one of two billion parts of sun’s energy?

Answer 8

Sun’s energy is dissipated and scattered before reaching earth

Question 9

Sun’s energy reaches earth as what type of waves?

Answer 9

Short

Question 10

Out of total 100% of insolation, how much reaches earth’s surface?

Answer 10

51%

Question 11

Out of total 100% of insolation, how much is reflected back into space?

Answer 11

35%

Question 12

Out of total 100% of insolation, how much is absorbed by atmosphere?

Answer 12

14%

Question 13

Terrestrial radiation is in what type of waves?

Answer 13

Long waves

Question 14

Terrestrial radiation

Answer 14

Heat radiated by earth in form of long waves

Question 15

Heat balance or heat budget

Answer 15

State of equilibrium on earth between incoming insolation from sun and outgoing terrestrial radiation from earth

Question 16

Earth has heat balance when considering worldwide average balance not location specific (which might be heat budget) why?

Answer 16

Low latitude areas receive more radiation than they lose and opposite happens at poles

Question 17

Conduction of heat on earth

Answer 17

Heat radiated by earth’s surface warms layers of air above by direct contact

Question 18

Convection of heat on earth

Answer 18

Transfer of heat by circulatory movement (usually of air and water on oceans)

Question 19

What causes seabreeze?

Answer 19

Convection currents in the atmosphere

Question 20

How does the atmosphere act like a blanket or a greenhouse and keep the earth warm and its temperature regulated?

Question 21

True or false: distribution of temperature over the earth is uniform.

Question 22

Temperature of atmosphere of a place depends on factors like

Answer 22

• winds and ocean currents
• latitude
• distance from the sea
• altitude
• slope of land

Question 23

Temperature __________ with increase in latitude on either side of the equator. Why?

Answer 23

Decreases; Due to spherical shape of the earth and its annual revolution around the sun

Question 24

“On this basis, the earth is divided into 5 temperature zones.” What basis?

Answer 24

Higher the latitude, colder the place

Question 25

“On this basis, the earth is divided into 5 temperature zones.” What are the five temperature zones?

Answer 25

• torrid zone
• north temperate zone
• south temperate zone
• 2 frigid zones

Question 26

Where is torrid zone?

Question 27

Where is north temperate zone?

Question 28

Where is south temperate zone?

Question 29

Where are the 2 frigid zones?

Question 30

Altitude

Answer 30

Height of a place above the mean sea level

Question 31

Normal lapse rate of temperature

Answer 31

Rate of decrease of temperature with height is about 6°C per kilometre above the sea level (or 1°C per 166 m)

Question 32

Seabreeze

Answer 32

Cool breeze that blows over the earth from the surrounding seas

Question 33

Why is the Torrid zone hotter?

Answer 33

The sun’s rays which fall over the torrid zone travel shorter distance and heat up a smaller part of the surface area leading to higher temperature.

Question 34

Why do the Sun’s rays travel longer distance beyond the torrid zone?

Answer 34

Inclined axis and revolution of earth on its axis (sphere shape of earth?)

Question 35

The higher the altitude, the ____ the temperature

Answer 35

Lower

Question 36

What is the main reason for decrease of temperature with height?

Answer 36

Atmosphere is heated from below. more by terrestrial radiation then by incoming solar radiation.

Question 37

State the second more minor reason that the higher the altitude, the lower the temperature 

Answer 37

Air on the surface of the earth is denser and contains more carbon dioxide, water vapour, and other gases. Hence, its heat absorption capacity is more in the lower layers than in the upper layers where its density is less.