GEO 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Shortwave Radiation, Radiant Energy, Ecliptic
30 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Light year distance light travels in 1 year- 300 000 km/s. Plane of earths orbit called ecliptic plane. Light reaches earth from sun in ~8min,20sec. Avg distance from earth is 150million km. Generated by nuclear fusion reaction in which pairs of hydrogen nuclei are joined, form helium and emit energy. Our energy on earth is the ability to do work. Caused by magnetic storms on the sun. Their temperature are less than temp of their surroundings. Solar winds are clouds of electrically charged particles and take 3 days to reach the earth. Magnetosphere deflects the solar wind to wards both of the earths poles and only a small portion of it enters atmosphere to produce auroras. Auroras are electromagnetic clouds that are being deflected into the north. Occupies portion of electromagnetic spectrum of radiant energy. Travels at speed of light to earth. Total spectrum of radiant energy made up of different wavelengths. Geographers interested in visible light portion of spectrum.
