EARTHSC 2GG3 Chapter 9: CHAPTER 9
29 Dec 2019
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Chapter 9: external energy fuels weather and climate. Storms, tornados, hurricanes, and floods are mainly driven by solar energy instead of energy from within the earth. Sun is the main source of energy in the atmosphere and hydrosphere. 4000 x more heat coming from the sun than inside the earth. Half the radiation hitting earth is absorbed by the surface. Greenhouse effect depends on the gasses present in the atmosphere. Equator receives excess heat but gets distributed to the poles through oceans and atmosphere. Warm moist air rises over the equator cooling and causing rain in the tropics. Just north and south of the equator (30 degrees latitude, north and south) descending air pulls moisture out of the land great deserts. Some flows poleward and some back to the equator. Imagine throwing a ball from the middle of the north pole (center of a circle) toward the outside.
