GEOG 2050 Chapter : Chapter 4
Document Summary
Key concepts, transmission, scattering, diffusion, refraction, mirage, reflection, albedo, absorption, rayleigh scattering, earth"s energy budget, solar radiation varies, output from sun, distance of earth from the sun, daily, seasonally. Functions as a filter: absorbs, gamma rays, x-rays, uv, allows visible light to reach earth"s surface, energy pathways, figure 4. 1, shortwave energy from the sun, long wave energy from earth, transmission, passage of energy through atmos. or water. Insolation input- all radiation received at earth"s surface- direct and indirect: figure 4. 2, tropics receive the most insolation, deserts have less clouds more insolation, forest regions have more clouds but less insolation, energy pathways. Light waves refracted by air at different temp: rayleigh scattering, shorter wavelengths greater scattering, violet to blue, smaller molecules, longer wavelengths less scattering, orange to red. Larger molecules: why blue sky at noon and red sky at dusk or dawn, at noon blue light (shorter waves) most readily scattered.
