GEOG 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Solar Irradiance, Shortwave Radiation
Document Summary
How energy is intercepted: gases in the atmosphere absorb insolation of certain wavelengths, transparent to uv-a. Albedo- amount of energy that is re ected: measured in percentages, 31% is re ected and 69% is absorbed. What happens when energy reaches the surface: shortwave converted to sensible heat, shortwave is converted to longwave infrared. Some goes back into space: sensible, longwave, latent, shortwave radiation is converted into latent hear during melting and evaporation. Absorption by wavelength: different gases absorb or scatter energy at different wavelengths. Earth"s estimated energy balance: if too much leaves we will cool, if too much stays we will warm, balance between incoming shortwave and outgoing longwave, lot of help from greenhouse gases.
