Section C Flashcards
(27 cards)
What happens to the biosphere when it is continuously illuminated by the sun?
Flow of energy in the biosphere
What happens to the biosphere when it is continuously illuminated by the sun?
It causes a constant flow of energy
What is the term for the difference between the amount of incoming and outgoing radiation in the biosphere?
Net radiation budget
What causes global temperatures to change in the biosphere?
The difference between incoming and outgoing radiation
What happens to global temperatures when the energy balance is not equal?
Increases or decreases accordingly until balance is reached
What is the original source of energy for Earth’s climate system?
Solar energy (radiation)
What does the amount of solar energy received by a region depend on?
The amount of solar energy received by a region
What does the angle of the sun’s rays determine about solar energy
The angle of incidence
What happens to the intensity of solar energy as the angle of incidence decreases?
It spreads out and becomes less intense
What unit is used to measure the amount of solar energy received by a region?
Joules
What do we call the two times each year when the Earth experiences equal hours of day and night?
Equinox
What is the term for the two times each year when one hemisphere experiences the longest or shortest day?
Solstice
When is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
June 21
When is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
December 21
When do the equinoxes typically occur each year?
March 21 and September 21
What is the term that describes the degree to which materials reflect solar radiation?
Albedo
The lighter the color, the ______ the albedo.
higher
The greater the reflection and lower amount of energy available to biological activity is due to the presence of what in the winter?
snow and ice
What do surfaces like snow, ice, and clouds have in common that affects albedo?
High albedo
What does an albedo of 0.80 mean?
80% radiation reflected
What types of surfaces tend to have low albedo?
dark forests
What absorbs solar energy and eventually re-radiates it into space?
non-living components
What organisms absorb and store solar energy using chlorophyll?
chlorophyll-containing organisms
What process uses solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen?
photosynthesis
