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geography atmosphere and weather - Coggle Diagram
geography atmosphere and weather
4 layers of the atmostphere
stratosphere
thermosphere
mesosphere
troposphere
contains most of the atmospheres water vapor, cloud, dust, pollution
energy in the earths atmostphere
the amount of energy received is determined by
the solar constant
the rate at which the flow of energy reaches earth from the sun
the distance from the sun
the slanted orbit of the earth around the sun can cause a 6 percent difference in the solar constant
the altitude of the sun in the sky
radiation has twice the area to heat up at the poles rather than the equator, further the radiation has more atmosphere to travel through
length of night and day
due to the earth being tilted at 29 and a half degrees there are several months with no insolation on the other side of the earth facing away from the sun, this leads to unequal heating.
longer the day is the more heat can be recieved.
incoming radiation
small amount absorbed in stratosphere
scattering reaches earth as diffuse radiation, remainder scattered ack into space by cloud and dust reflection
small amounts reflected back into space from the earths surfaces
24% of incoming radiation directly reaches the earths surface
clouds absorb small amounts
24% also absorbed by the atmosphere
surface wind belts
ITCZ
a few 100kms wide where winds blow inward and rise, thereby forming a low pressure area
weather in this area is warm and dry in the mornings and wet and showery during the atfernoons
Movement is a result of the movement of the overhead sun, follows the sun due to the movement on the hottest region around seasons/parts of the year
latitude
two factors affecting temperature
angle of the overhead sun
thickness of the atmostphere
hotter at equator due to more direct sun
polar is more reflective
daytime energy budgets
incoming solar radiation
main energy input affected by latitude, season and cloud
reflected solar radiation
surface absorbtion
energy received by surface has potential to warm it up
dense surfaces that can conduct to lower layers will remain cool
surfaces that have concentrated energy on the surface will heat up
sensible heat transfer
refers to the movement of parcels of air into and out from the area being studied
long wave radiation
night time energy budgets
long wave radiation
cloudless nights means large amounts of long wave radiation is lost meaning rapid loss of heat (why desserts are so cold at night and hot during the day)
latent heat transfer
during the night water vapor in the air close to the surface can condense to form water. since the air has been cooled by the surface
sub surface reply
the heat transferred to the soil and bedrock during the day may be released back onto the surface during the night
sensible heat transfer
cold air moving into an area will reduce temperatures whereas warm air may supply energy and raise temperatures.
weather processes and phenomena
factors affecting evaporation
humidity of the air
dry = lots of evaporation
humid = little evaporation
supply of heat
wind
factors affecting condensation
when water evaporates into the air and becomes saturated
when it becomes so cold that the dew point is reached
3 different types of cooling
radiation cooling of the air
cooled by the airs surface losing heat
contact cooling of air when it rests over a surface
adiabatic air cooling when it rises