GEOG 2050 : Exam 2 Notes
Document Summary
Earth"s energy budget: solar radiation varies, output from sun, distance of earth from sun, daily, seasonally, latitudes, atmosphere functions as filter, absorbs, gamma rays, x-rays, uv, allows visible light to reach earth"s surface. Energy essentials: energy pathways, short wave energy form the sun, long wave energy form the earth, transmission, passage of energy through atmosphere or water. Insolation input: all radiation received at earth"s surface, direct and indirect. Insolation in the atmosphere encounters gases, dust, clouds, and smoke: ~50% of insolation makes it to the earth"s surface, these particles can either, scatter, absorb, reflect, refraction. Scattering: changing direction of light"s movement without altering its wavelength. Absorption: the assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter, the conversion of energy from one form to another, heats the earth"s atmosphere. Insolation (light) is bounced off a surface without being absorbed or scattered: change in speed and direction of light.
