Lecture 3

Question 1

What type of wavelength is primarily from the sun?

Answer 1

UV

Question 2

Solar constant

Answer 2

Average amount of radiation received at the top of the atmosphere

Question 3

What is the time where the Earth is closest to the sun called?

Answer 3

Perihelion

Question 4

What is the time where the Earth is furthest from the sun called?

Answer 4

Aphelion

Question 5

% of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth?

Answer 5

47%

Question 6

What impacts daily variations in solar radiation?

Answer 6

Rotation of Earth (day vs night)

Question 7

What impacts seasonal variations in solar radiation?

Answer 7

Tilt of Earth and Earth’s orbit

Question 8

What impacts longer variations in solar radiation?

Answer 8

Sun spots

Question 9

3 aspects of the Milankovitch cycles

Answer 9

Eccentricity, obliquity and precession

Question 10

Eccentricity

Answer 10

Change of Earth’s orbit around the sun; period of 100,000 years

Question 11

Obliquity

Answer 11

Change of Earth’s tilt; period of 41,000 years

Question 12

Precession

Answer 12

Change of direction of Earth’s tilt; period of 21,000

Question 13

What wavelength is emitted from the Earth?

Answer 13

Infrared

Question 14

Heat capacity

Answer 14

Amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of an object by 1C

Question 15

Net Radiation Formula

Answer 15

(Incoming- Out going SW) + (Incoming - Outgoing LW)