GPHY 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Solar Irradiance, Radiation Length, Shortwave Radio

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Geography
• Course: GPHY 102
• Professor: Dr.Trezino

Document Summary

Long wavelength = low frequency, low energy short wavelength = high frequency, high energy. Electromagnetic radiation (cid:149) all objects emit electromagnetic radiation. (cid:149) energy that exists as waves (cid:149) different types have different wavelengths (distance from one crest to another) and frequency (waves per unit time) Shortwave radiation (cid:149) comes mostly from the sun. (cid:149) ultraviolet. Short wavelengths (0. 2 to 0. 4 micrometres), high energy. Do not penetrate atmosphere easily. (cid:149) visible light (our optical system is sensitive to this range) Shorter wavelengths perceived as violet, longer wavelengths perceived as red (0. 4 to 0. 7 micrometres). Wavelengths ranging from 0. 7 to 1. 2 micrometers. (cid:149) shortwave infrared radiation. Wavelengths range from 1. 2 to 3 micrometers. Longwave radiation (cid:149) wavelengths greater than 3 micrometers (cid:149) middle infrared (3-6 micrometres) From sun, but also emitted through combustion (cid:149) longwave (thermal) infrared (6-300 micrometres) Emitted by cooler bodies, for example as heat. See appendix 3. 1 remote sensing for physical geography.