Solar Energy and the Solar Energy and the AtmosphereAtmosphere

Earth and Space ScienceEarth and Space Science

Ms. PollockMs. Pollock

2009 - 20102009 - 2010

RadiationRadiation

All forms of energy that travel through All forms of energy that travel through space as wavesspace as waves

Speed 300,000 km/sSpeed 300,000 km/s

WavelengthWavelength – distance from crest to crest – distance from crest to crest or trough to troughor trough to trough

Electromagnetic spectrumElectromagnetic spectrum – complete – complete range of wavelengths of electromagnetic range of wavelengths of electromagnetic waveswaves

Electromagnetic SpectrumElectromagnetic Spectrum

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~hakim/301/electromagnetic-http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~hakim/301/electromagnetic-spectrum.jpgspectrum.jpg

The Atmosphere and Solar The Atmosphere and Solar RadiationRadiation

Upper atmosphere absorbs almost all Upper atmosphere absorbs almost all radiation with wavelength shorter than radiation with wavelength shorter than visible lightvisible light

Molecules of N and O absorb X rays, Molecules of N and O absorb X rays, gamma rays, UV raysgamma rays, UV rays

In stratosphere, oxygen uses radiation to In stratosphere, oxygen uses radiation to form ozoneform ozone

The Atmosphere and Solar The Atmosphere and Solar RadiationRadiation

http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/images/http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/images/SolarRadiationDiagram.jpgSolarRadiationDiagram.jpg

The Atmosphere and Solar The Atmosphere and Solar RadiationRadiation

Most solar rays reaching lower Most solar rays reaching lower atmosphere longer wavelengthsatmosphere longer wavelengths

Infrared radiation absorbed by COInfrared radiation absorbed by CO22

ScatteringScatteringhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://science.nayland.school.nz/hamishm/images/science.nayland.school.nz/hamishm/images/sunrise.jpg&imgrefurl=http://sunrise.jpg&imgrefurl=http://science.nayland.school.nz/hamishm/science.nayland.school.nz/hamishm/&usg=__P5fIW_2hfR9_QXr-&usg=__P5fIW_2hfR9_QXr-jiwBhMJsA0c=&h=907&w=1238&sz=191&hl=en&stjiwBhMJsA0c=&h=907&w=1238&sz=191&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=baaXk0iBCn-art=2&tbnid=baaXk0iBCn-5yM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq5yM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsunrise%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%3Dsunrise%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Particles and gas Particles and gas molecules in molecules in atmosphere reflect atmosphere reflect and bend solar raysand bend solar raysSome radiation back Some radiation back to spaceto spaceSunlight from all Sunlight from all directionsdirectionsBlue sky and red Blue sky and red sunrise and sunsetsunrise and sunset

ReflectionReflection

Earth’s surface Earth’s surface absorbing or absorbing or reflecting energyreflecting energyPhysical properties of Physical properties of surface determine surface determine absorption or absorption or reflectionreflectionalbedoalbedo – fraction of – fraction of solar radiation solar radiation reflected by a surfacereflected by a surface

http://http://www.energyeducation.tx.gov/www.energyeducation.tx.gov/environment/section_3/topics/environment/section_3/topics/predicting_change/img/predicting_change/img/albedo.gifalbedo.gif

Absorption and Infrared EnergyAbsorption and Infrared Energy

Not all radiation ever absorbedNot all radiation ever absorbed

Heating of surface materialsHeating of surface materials

Reemission of radiation with altered Reemission of radiation with altered wavelengthwavelength

Necessary for maintenance of temperature Necessary for maintenance of temperature of lower atmosphereof lower atmosphere

Causes Causes miragemirage

Absorption and Infrared EnergyAbsorption and Infrared Energy

http://www.astronomycafe.net/weird/lights/mirage6.jpghttp://www.astronomycafe.net/weird/lights/mirage6.jpg

The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse glass allows Greenhouse glass allows light and infrared rays in.light and infrared rays in.The glass also prevents The glass also prevents the reflected rays from the reflected rays from escaping the greenhouse.escaping the greenhouse.Earth’s atmosphere acts Earth’s atmosphere acts in the same way.in the same way.

http://http://andrian09.files.wordpressandrian09.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/.com/2008/12/greenhouseeffectdiagramgreenhouseeffectdiagram.jpg.jpg

Human Impact on the Greenhouse Human Impact on the Greenhouse EffectEffect

http://http://www.myclimatechangwww.myclimatechange.net/UserImage/3/e.net/UserImage/3/Definition/Definition/GreenhouseEffect.jpgGreenhouseEffect.jpg

Generally, the amount Generally, the amount of energy entering the of energy entering the atmosphere and the atmosphere and the amount of energy amount of energy leaving the leaving the atmosphere is equal.atmosphere is equal.

Human activities Human activities upset the balanceupset the balance– Burning fossil fuelsBurning fossil fuels

Variations in TemperatureVariations in Temperature

Unequal heating of EarthUnequal heating of Earth

Delay between radiation reaching Earth Delay between radiation reaching Earth and temperature increasingand temperature increasing

Warmest time of day mid- to late afternoonWarmest time of day mid- to late afternoon

Depends on latitude, surface features, Depends on latitude, surface features, season, and time of dayseason, and time of day

Latitude and SeasonLatitude and Season

Because of Earth’s shape, sun does not Because of Earth’s shape, sun does not strike everywhere at same anglestrike everywhere at same angle

At equator, rays striking at near 90At equator, rays striking at near 90ºº– More intense radiationMore intense radiation

Seasonal temperature variation because Seasonal temperature variation because of Earth’s tilt on axisof Earth’s tilt on axis

Opposite seasons in northern and Opposite seasons in northern and southern hemispheresouthern hemisphere

Latitude and SeasonLatitude and Season

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/imageshtml/earth-tilt.gifhttp://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/imageshtml/earth-tilt.gif

Water in the Air and on the SurfaceWater in the Air and on the Surface

Water vapor stores heat.Water vapor stores heat.

Wide temperature variation in very dry Wide temperature variation in very dry areas or areas with high altitudesareas or areas with high altitudes

Land areas near large bodies of water less Land areas near large bodies of water less variant, due to specific heat of watervariant, due to specific heat of water

Temperature variations caused by wind Temperature variations caused by wind patternspatterns

Water in the Air and on the SurfaceWater in the Air and on the Surface

http://www.free-online-private-pilot-ground-school.com/images/sea-http://www.free-online-private-pilot-ground-school.com/images/sea-land-breeze.gifland-breeze.gif

ConductionConduction

Transfer of energy from one substance to Transfer of energy from one substance to another by direct contactanother by direct contact

Results from particle collisionsResults from particle collisions

Air a poor conductor due to large spaces Air a poor conductor due to large spaces between particlesbetween particles

Conduction only in lower portion of Conduction only in lower portion of atmosphereatmosphere

ConductionConduction

http://blogs.saschina.org/sophie01pd2016/files/2009/10/heat-http://blogs.saschina.org/sophie01pd2016/files/2009/10/heat-transmittance-means.jpgtransmittance-means.jpg

ConvectionConvection

Process by which a fluid rises or sinks Process by which a fluid rises or sinks because of a difference in temperaturebecause of a difference in temperature

Result of uneven heatingResult of uneven heating

Primary source of heating in lower Primary source of heating in lower atmosphereatmosphere

Pressure difference between air of Pressure difference between air of different temperatures creates wind.different temperatures creates wind.

ConvectionConvection

http://npg2.com/krdo/weatherblog/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/http://npg2.com/krdo/weatherblog/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/convection_explainer.gif2008/08/convection_explainer.gif