GG101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Rieti, Urban Heat Island, Nitric Acid
Document Summary
Gg101 chapter 4 notes- atmosphere and surface energy balances. Solar energy heating earth"s atmosphere and surface is unevenly distrubted by latitude, and fluctuates seasonally. Refer to: flow diagram of shortwave and longwave radiation. Transmission: the passage of shortwave and longwave energy through either the atmosphere or water: shortwave: includes radiation inputs (uv light, visible light, and near-infrared wavelengths, longwave: outputs such as thermal infrared. Insolation input: insolation is the single energy input driving the earth-atmosphere system: solar energy (watts per square metre) is distributed unevenly throughout the world. Insolation decreases poleward from about 25 degrees latitude in both north and south hem"s: consistent daylength and high sun altitude produce average annual values of 180-220. W/m^2 throughout equatorial and tropical latitudes: greater insolation occurs in low-latitude areas due to lack of clouds: sonoran, saharn, Small gas molecules in the air scatter shorter wavelengths of light.
