GGR101H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Low Earth Orbit, Milankovitch Cycles, Atmospheric Circulation
13 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Subatomic particles propagated in wavelengths: atoms composed of protons, neutrons, electrons, photons drive electromagnetic energy. Travel at speed of light in oscillating pattern. Surrounded by electric, magnetic fields: wavelength: spatial period of sinusoidal wave. Length from crest to crest: frequency: wavelengths/second. Gives visible light (700nm to 400 nm), photosynthesis, atmospheric circulation. Cones, rods in human eye: cones detect color (red, blue, green, rods detect light intensity. Green plants reflect green, absorb blue and red. Satellites detect reflected wavelengths of plants to measure global plant coverage and plant health: passive satellites record reflected wavelengths from sunlight, active satellites direct light at plants. Cycles not 100% regular, but still frequent: sum of orbit, rotation, tilt, precession. Copernican revolution in 1543: challenged conceptions of the time with heliocentric model, copernicus wrongly believed that planet orbits were perfect circles. Perihelion (nearest to sun), aphelion (farthest from sun) Tilt causes seasons: different solar radiation reaching surface, magnetic and polar north pole are not the same.
