Physical Geography: Chapter 2 – The Earth’s Global Energy Balance – Flashcards
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Solar Energy
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Energy derived from the sun's radiation.
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Electromagnetic Radiation
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A collection of waves, of a wide range of wavelengths, that travel away from the surface of an object.
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Wavelengths
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Measured distance separating one wave crest from the next wave crest.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
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Defines the entire range of wavelengths for all energy.
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Radiation
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The emission and propagation of energy in the form of rays or waves.
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Temperature
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A measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance with reference to some standard value.
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Solar Radiation
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Energy radiated from the sun in the form of electromagnetic waves, including visible and ultraviolet light and infrared radiation.
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Shortwave Radiation
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Electromagnetic energy in the range from 0.2 to 3 µm, including most of the energy spectrum of SOLAR radiation.
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Longwave Radiation
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Electromagnetic energy emitted by the EARTH, largely in the range from 3 to 50 µm.
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Insolation
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Flow rate of incoming solar energy, as measured at the top of the atmosphere.
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Subsolar Point
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The point on the surface of the earth or a planet at which the sun is at the zenith.
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Declination
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Angular distance north or south from the celestial equator measured along a great circle passing through the celestial poles.
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Circle of Illumination
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Separates day and night.
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Equinox
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One of the two times in a year when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator, and day and night are of equal length.
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Annual Insolations
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Total amount of insolation in one location over the course of a year; varies only by latitude. (seasons don't matter)
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Midlatitude
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Strong seasonal contrasts in insolation and length of day.
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Troposphere
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The lowest layer of the atmosphere, where human activity and most weather take place.
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Stratosphere
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Layer of atmosphere directly above the troposphere, where temperature slowly increases with height.
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Ozone
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A layer of the earth's upper atmosphere that is characterized by high ozone content which blocks most of the sun's ultraviolet radiation from entering the lower atmosphere.
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Mesosphere
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The atmospheric layer lying between the stratosphere and the thermosphere, characterized by a rapid decrease in temperature with height.
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Thermosphere
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The hottest layer of the Earth's atmosphere directly above the mesosphere and directly below the exosphere.
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Aerosol
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A substance consisting of very fine particles of a liquid or solid suspended in a gas.
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Absorption
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The process in which incident radiant energy is retained by a substance.
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Scattering
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Process by which particles and molecules deflect incoming solar radiations in different directions on collision
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Albedo
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A measure of how much light that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed.
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Greenhouse Effect
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A gas in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and ozone, that absorbs solar heat reflected by the surface of the Earth, warming the atmosphere.
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CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons)
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Synthetic industrial chemical compounds containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms.
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Global Radiation Balance
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The energy flow process by which the Earth absorbs shortwave solar radiation and emits longwave radiation; in the long run, the two flows must balance.
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Daily Insolation
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The measurement of daily amount of sunshine in a 24-hour period.
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Seasonality and Latitude
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Factors that make insolation distribute unevenly across Earth's surface.
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Net Radiation
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The difference between incoming and outgoing radiation.
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Sensible Latent
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Two types of heat.
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Sensible Heat
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Form of energy; we are able to feel it; thermometer measures it; contained in a substance; transfers by either conduction or convection.
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Conduction
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Transfer of sensible heat through matter by transfer of energy from one atom or molecule to the next in the direction of decreasing temperature.
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Convection
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Transfer of sensible heat; heat goes into gasses and the heat travels upward. (away from the source of heat)
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Latent Heat
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Heat absorbed and held in storage in a gas or liquid during the processes of evaporation, melting, or sublimation; cannot be measured with thermometer.
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Latent Heat Transfer
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Begins mostly when water evaporates; energy from surroundings go INTO molecules, surrounding areas will cool down. (or vise versa)
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Reradiation
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Radiation emitted as a consequence of a previous absorption of radiation.
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Counterradiation
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Reradiation that travels back from the atmosphere to the surface of the earth; this causes the earth to warm.
