Chapter 2
Heating Earth’s Surface and Atmosphere
I. Earth–Sun Relationships
A. Earth’s 2 Principal Motions
1. Rotation : spinning about the axis
2. Revolution : orbit around the sun
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Revolution
a. Perihelion :earth closest to sun
b. Aphelion :earth farthest from sun
B. The seasons
- result from variations in the intensity (or amount) of solar
radiation striking the earth
-Height of noon sun changes
-Length of day changes
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Sun Angle
-influence intensity of solar radiation
Sun Angle
-influence distance traveled through atmosphere
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C. Earth’s Orientation
1. Plane of the ecliptic = plane of earth’s orbit around the sun
2. Inclination of the axis = tilted 23.5 degrees
C. Earth’s Orientation
Circle of illumination
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D. Solstices and equinoxes
Circle of
illumination
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Temperature Data at
Different Latitudes
- annual temperature
range increases with
latitude
- earth-sun geometry is not
the only control
II. Energy, Heat, and Temperature
Universe = composed of matter and energy
Energy = the capacity to do work (move matter)
A. Forms of energy
1. Kinetic energy: energy of motion (1/2 mv2), atomic level
ρgh)
2. Potential energy: potential to do work (ρ
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II. Energy, Heat, and Temperature
B. Temperature: a measure of the average kinetic energy of the
atoms or molecules in a substance
- Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin (-273)
C. Heat: refers to the transfer of energy between
substances due to temperature differences
- heat flow stops when temperatures are equal
III. Mechanisms of Energy Transfer
A. Conduction: transfer of heat through electron and molecular
collision
- poor conductors = insulators
- air = poor conductor
- metal = good conductor
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III. Mechanisms of Energy Transfer
B. Convection: heat transfer involving movement or circulation of a
substance (liquids & gasses)
- thermals = convective cells in atmosphere
- convection = up-down movement
- advection = horizontal movement
Convection Cell Examples
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III. Mechanisms of Energy Transfer
C. Radiation: energy emitted in the form of waves or particles
Solar Radiation = electromagnetic radiation
- self-propagating wave that can travel through the void of space
- classified into types according to the wavelength
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electromagnetic radiation
- order of increasing wavelength: gamma rays, X-rays,
ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves,
radio waves
2. Laws of radiation
- All objects continually emit radiant energy over a range of
wavelengths
- Hotter objects radiate more total energy per unit area than do colder
objects
Stefan-Boltzman Law
E = σT4 σ = 5.67x10-8 W/m2K4
Sun = 6000 K Earth = 300 K
E(S)= 73,483,200 W/m2 E(E) = 459 W/m2
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2. Laws of radiation
- The hotter the radiating body, the shorter the wavelength of
maximum radiation
Wien’s Displacement Law
λ max = C/T C = 2898 µmK
λsun = 0.483 λearth = 9.66
2. Laws of radiation
- Objects that are good absorbers of radiation are also good emitters
Blackbody = 100% efficient
Atmospheric Gasses = selective absorbers
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III. What Happens to Radiation?
- absorbed = observed increase in kinetic energy
- transmitted = transparent to solar radiation
- redirected = reflection and scattering
A. Reflection and scattering
diffused light = scattered solar radiation
albedo = fraction of
radiation that is reflected
by a surface
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Scattering & Diffused Light
Crepuscular rays
IV. Radiation Emitted by Earth
A. Earth radiates energy as a
longwave (infrared band, 95%)
B. Selective absorption by gasses
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The Greenhouse Effect
CO2
H2 O
C. Role of clouds in heating Earth
-clouds at night absorb infrared radiation and re-radiate it back to
surface
-low thick clouds during the day reflect solar radiation, cool the
surface
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V. Heat Budget
VI. Latitudinal Heat Balance
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Electromagnetic radiation is generally described as a self-propagating wave in space with
electric and magnetic components. These components oscillate at right angles to each other and
to the direction of propagation, and are in phase with each other. Electromagnetic radiation is
classified into types according to the frequency of the wave: these types include, in order of
increasing frequency, radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet
radiation, X-rays and gamma rays. In some technical contexts the entire range is referred to as
just 'light
Classically, the electromagnetic field is a physical influence (a field) that permeates through all
of space, and which arises from electrically charged objects and describes one of the four
fundamental forces of nature - electromagnetism. It can be viewed as the combination of an
electric field and a magnetic field. The electric field is produced by non-moving charges and
the magnetic field by moving charges (currents); these two are often described as the sources
of the field.
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