How Does Heat Energy Travel and Insolation

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How Does Heat Energy Travel and Insolation

• FILL-IN NOTES

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Worksheet

• 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

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• 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

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• The strength of insolation depends on
• angle of insolation
• duration of insolation
• type of surface the insolation strikes
• The noon-time sun has the greatest angle of
  insolation

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• In the N Hemisphere the lowest noontime angle of
  insolation is reached at the winter solstice
• Vertical ray sunlight that strikes Earths
  surface at an angle of 90 degrees, which occurs
  every day at noon somewhere in the tropics

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Duration of insolation

• As the angle of insolation and the duration of
  insolation increases, temperatures at Earths
  surface increases
• Duration of insolation varies greatly with
  latitude

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Absorption of Insolation by the Atmosphere (in
notes)

• 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

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• 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

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El Nino

• 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

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• 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

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• El Nino shows the strong influence of oceans on
  the atmosphere

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

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• 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

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El Nino

• A Video to Explain It

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Reflection of Insolation

• Clouds reflect roughly half of the light falling
  on them
• Ice and snow reflect a large amount of insolation
  and absorb very little

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• 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

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Terrestrial radiation

• Energy waves sent back into space from Earths
  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

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• 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

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Greenhouse effect

• 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)

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Insolation-Temperature lag

• 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 Earths surface and then re-radiated
  as heat energy that warms the air
• Lag means delay

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• 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

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Videos

• Seasons crash course
• The Greenhouse Effect