ENVIRSC 1C03 Study Guide - Final Guide: Radiative Forcing, Antarctic Circle, Tropics

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Environmental Science
• Course: ENVIRSC 1C03
• Professor: Luc Bernier

Document Summary

Module 5: variation of surface temperature ecliptic plane earth takes elliptical path on flat plane, takes 365 days to travel around ecliptic plane this a(cid:374)(cid:374)ual trip = earth"s re(cid:448)olutio(cid:374) Earth closest to sun in january, point known as perihelion (peri-near, helios sun) Earth farthest from sun in july, point known as aphelion (ap away from) Daily variation in air temperature is controlled by net radiation. Net radiation the balance b/w incoming & outgoing solar & infrared radiation. When incoming radiation exceeds outgoing radiation, net radiation is positive, creating a sensible heat flux into air, air temp. rises. If outgoing energy exceed incoming energy net radiation is negative, air loses sensible heat, air temp falls. June solstice june 21, marks beginning of summer in north hemisphere, start of winter in south hemisphere; longest day in north hem, shortest day in south hem. Subsolar point latitude (cid:449)here the su(cid:374) is dire(cid:272)tl(cid:455) o(cid:448)erhead at (cid:374)oo(cid:374), su(cid:374)"s rays & earth make.