GEOG 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Shortwave Radiation, Solar Constant, Fokker E.Ii
Document Summary
1: shortwave radiation, more energy, from the sun, called insolation, solar constant average amount of insolation (345 watts/m^2) d. i. Constant isn"t reached everywhere on earth, it varies across space (from latitude) and time (seasons) d. ii. Seasons are tilt on the axis: what does cause the seasonality and spatial variability of insolation? e. i. Insolation from lower angle must spread across more surface e. i. 1. b. Equatorial parts of atmosphere receive maximum insolation; mid lat receive intermediate. Insolation strikes polar regions at low angle, spread e. i. 1. c. out. Insolation from lower angle has to pass through more atmosphere e. i. 2. b. How stuff gets scattered when it hits the atmosphere (atmosphere has mostly nitrogen in and molecules. Tropics little attenuation low distance in atmospheric rays have to go to, at poles lots of scattering, high attenuation e. i. 2. d. Poles small of insolation, lots of attenuation (scattering) e. ii. No - what role does orbital shape play? e. ii. 1. Only minor variations in insolation due to distance from sun e. ii. 1. a. i.
