ENVIRSC 1A03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Outgoing Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Heat Capacity
8 Oct 2013
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Earth revolves around sun in ecliptic plane known as revolution. Closet to sun in january, point known as perihelion. Earth"s axis is offset 23. 5 from perpendicular plane (plane of ecliptic) Circle of illumination: separates portion of earth that is light or dark. June solstice: longest day of the year, subsolar point at 23. 5 degrees north of tropic of cancer subsolar point: angle of sun"s ray and earth"s surface is 90 degrees. December solstice: shortest day in northern hemisphere subsolar point is at 23. 5 degrees south of tropic of capricorn, 24 hr daylight in antarctic circle. Equinox: subsolar point is at equator, 12 hr daylight everywhere, circle of illumination touches both poles. Body of water heats and cools more slowly than land. Thermal properties of water: on land, heating is concentrated on the surface, in water solar rays reach greater depths, more even warming. Heat capacity: amount of heat that a substance can store, water has a greater heat capacity.
