GEOG 2050 Chapter : Chapter 4 Notes
Document Summary
Key concepts: reflection, albedo, absorption, rayleigh scattering. Earth"s energy budget: solar radiation varies, output from sun, distance of earth from sun, daily, seasonally, latitudes, atmosphere functions as a filter, absorbs, gamma rays, x-rays, uv, allows visible light to reach earth"s surface. Energy essentials: energy pathways, short wave energy from the sun, long wave energy from the earth, transmission, passage of energy through atmosphere or water. Insolation input: all radiation received at earth"s surface direct and indirect. Insolation (light) is bounced off a surface without being absorbed or scattered: refraction, change in speed and direction of light. Scattering (diffuse radiation: occurs when insolation isn"t absorbed, but is bounced in all directions, scatter agents, dust, pollutants, ice, cloud droplets, and water vapor, diffuse radiation the downward component of scattered light multidirectional shadowless light. Rayleigh scattering: shorter wavelengths, greater scattering, violet to blue, smaller molecules.
