ERTH 2415 Lecture Notes - Latent Heat
11 Apr 2012
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Climate: meteorological elements and phenomena averaged over a long period of time for a region of the earth"s surface, meteorological elements:precipitations, temperature, humidity, etc, phenomena: hail, frost, fog, etc. Factors influencing climate: long-term trends in heating and cooling of the earth"s surface, circulation of the atmosphere and oceans. Energy balance between the sun and the earth: balance must be maintained at a certain point in time, energy entering the earth"s atmosphere must equal the energy re-emitted to space, otherwise global warming/cooling. 20 % energy absorbed and re-emitted by the atmosphere. 49 % energy absorbed and re-emitted by the earth"s surface: 0 % Energy absorbed by the earth"s surface is mostly stored in the oceans: oceans cover 70% of the earth"s surface, irradiation penetrates deep through the water. Energy redistribution: circulation of heat from equator to poles, in an effort to restore thermal equilibrium, via oceans and atmosphere. Processes of energy redistribution: process exchanging the largest quantity of heat:
