FILL-IN NOTES

Insolation = INcoming SOLar RadiATION (sunlight)

Angle of Insolation: Angle of the sun above the horizon

Duration of Insolation: Length of time from sunrise to sunset that the sun is in the sky

Absorption of Insolation: Taking in of sunlight

Reflection of Insolation: Process in which energy waves bounce off a surface or interface/boundary

Terrestrial Radiation: the longer infrared heat waves radiated by Earth

The strength of insolation depends on: the angle of insolation, the duration of insolation, and the type of surface the insolation strikes

The noon sun has the greatest angle of insolation

In the N Hemisphere the lowest noontime angle of insolation is reached at the winter solstice

Vertical ray: sunlight that strikes Earth’s surface at an angle of 90 degrees, which occurs everyday at noon somewhere in the tropics

As the angle of insolation and the duration of insolation increases, temperatures at Earth’s surface increase

Duration of insolation varies greatly with latitude

Earth absorbs most of the sunlight that falls on it

Ozone and other gases in the upper atmosphere absorb high-energy radiation, such as X rays and gamma rays

Long-wave radiation, such as infrared, is absorbed by water and carbon dioxide

Some absorbed energy is changed into heat waves that reradiate back into the atmosphere

Under normal conditions in the Pacific, water moves upward from deep ocean currents along western S.A.

This cold water is rich in oxygen and nutrients

El Nino

When there is less upward movement and the warmer surface is not as productive, there are less fish/plants

Usually happens around Christmas

It can create extra rainfall in the Eastern Pacific and droughts in the Western Pacific

El Nino shows the strong influence of oceans on the atmosphere

El Nino: A warming event that is caused by warm ocean currents that result in major climatic consequences around the world

La Nina: Exceptionally cold water in the Pacific Ocean that affects worldwide climate

Global warming: Since the early 1980s, there has been a trend of rising temperatures

Clouds reflect roughly half of the light falling on them

Ice and snow reflect a large amount of insolation and absorb very little

Black road surfaces generally absorb over 90% of the solar energy

Calm water is a good reflector when the sun is low, but absorbs most of the sunlight when the sun is high in the sky

Energy waves sent back into space from Earth’s surface are longer in wavelength than energy waves in the range of visible light emitted from the sun

Longer infrared heat waves are absorbed by gases such as CO2 and water vapor

This traps the heat and is known as the greenhouse effect

Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be too cold for most familiar forms of life

Too much greenhouse effect can make it too hot

We are adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by cutting down forests, burning fossil fuels, and increasing methane amounts (by-product of petroleum and decaying organic matter)

A time lag exists between the time of greatest intensity of insolation and the highest air temperature

This occurs because insolation energy is first absorbed by Earth’s surface and then re-radiated as heat energy that warms the air

Lag means delay

At noon- incoming radiation reaches a max, and the ground continues to absorb energy for 2-3 more hours than it radiates

Once Earth radiates more than it absorbs from the sun, Earth cools

The daily high temp. usually happens around 2-3 pm

Greenhouse Effect