Radiation

Question 1

define electromagnetic energy

Answer 1

• a wavelike form of energy
• travels at the speed of light

Question 2

What are the five fundamental laws of physics?

Answer 2

1. all matter at temps above 0 emit electromagnetic radiation
2. substances emit radiation in a wavelike fashion
3. substances that emit the maximum radiation’s temperature are called blackbodies
4. the hotter the object, the shorter the wavelength of maximum emission
5. the amount of energy passing through a unit is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source

Question 3

define fission

Answer 3

splitting atoms

Question 3

define fusion

Answer 3

hydrogen converted to helium

Question 4

define solar constant

Answer 4

how much radiation reaches a perpendicular surface at the top of Earth’s atmosphere

Question 5

what happens every 11 years?

Answer 5

solar activity reaches a fever pitch and solar flares erupt near sunspots on a daily basis

Question 6

insolation and what factors cause variance in winter vs summer?

Answer 6

incoming solar radiation
- factors: sun angles and length of day

Question 7

is solar radiation shortwave or longwave? what about terrestrial?

Answer 7

solar = shortwave
terrestrial = longwave

Question 8

how much insolation that reaches earth is absorbed? what methods inhibit absorption?

Answer 8

50%, scattering, reflection, and diffuse reflection

Question 9

scattering

Answer 9

SW radiation is scattered in all directions by gas molecules

Question 10

___ wavelengths scatter more effectively ( why we have blue sky). Which colors are in sunlight?

Answer 10

shorter, all but some scatter better

Question 11

diffuse reflection

Answer 11

scattering by particulate matter (more junk=more color)

Question 12

absorption

Answer 12

conversion of radiant energy to heat energy

Question 13

albedo

Answer 13

reflective percentage of a solid

Question 14

radiation balance and formula

Answer 14

tells us the amount of radiation absorbed:
Q* = incoming SW - outgoing SW + incoming LW - outgoing LW

Question 15

where is there net surplus and deficit of radiation? what balances this?

Answer 15

surplus around tropics, deficit in polars, weather balances it

Question 16

energy balance and formula

Answer 16

tells us how the surplus somewhere is allocated

Q* = sensible heat flux + latent heat flux + soil heat flux

Question 17

what is sensible heat flux?

Answer 17

heating boundary layer

Question 18

what is latent heat flux?

Answer 18

evaporation

Question 19

what is soil heat flux?

Answer 19

heating earth surface

Question 20

solar noon

Answer 20

when the sun is at it’s highest point in a specific location

Question 21

how do you find SEN?

Answer 21

SEN = 90 - Z

Z = latitudinal separation of LP and LS
LS = solar declination
LP = latitude of place

Question 22

what is solar declination/subsolar point? and what is max height?

Answer 22

• latitude where the noonday son is directly overhead
• can be up to 90% in tropics