GEOG 2050 : Chapter 4
Document Summary
Atmosphere and surface energy balances: energy essentials, energy balance in the troposphere, energy balance at earth"s surface. Passage of shortwave or longwave energy through atmosphere or water. Direct- nothing getting in the way of the radiation. Diffuse- something interferes with the direct beam. All radiation received at earth"s surface- direct and indirect. Changing direction of light"s movement, without altering its wavelength. Change in speed and direction of light. Rayleigh scattering-relates wavelength to the size of molecules or particles that cause scattering. **general rule: the shorter the wavelength, the greater the scattering. Shorter wavelengths of visible light (blues and violets) scatter the most. When the sun is at low- altitude, rays travel further through atmosphere, leaving only oranges and reds. As insolation enters atmosphere, passes from empty space into atmospheric gas. Causes a change in speed, and thus, a change in direction (bending action=refraction) Rainbows- visible light passes through raindrops and is refracted and reflected at.