PHYS 106L Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Density Of Air, Heat Capacity
Document Summary
Earth, in its elliptical orbit, is closest to the sun on january 3 (the perihelion) and farthest from the sun on july 3 (the aphelion). Albedo, or reflectivity, at earth"s surface is a function of sun angle and of the color and texture of the surface. Albedo values range from 0% (no reflection) to 100% (complete reflection). Many of earth"s atmospheric processes result from differences in energy from one place to another. For example, global-scale atmospheric and oceanic circulations are the result of an energy surplus in tropical regions and an energy deficit in polar regions. Both sensible and latent heat are transferred by winds. Warm ocean currents, often found on the east coasts of continents, also transport warm water from tropical regions to higher latitudes in both hemispheres. The magnitude of atmospheric and oceanic circulations depend on the magnitude of differences in energy from one place to another.
