Heating of the Atmosphere Chapter 15 Section 2 Heating of the Atmosphere

Energy in the Atmosphere Radiation is the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves 50% of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface. 5% of the sun’s radiation is reflected by the Earth’s surface 20% of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by ozone, clouds and atmospheric gas 25% of the sun’s radiation is scattered and reflected by clouds and air

Energy in the Atmosphere Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy from one material to another by direct contact Near the Earth’s surface, air is heated by conduction Convection is the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation of movement of a liquid or gas Convection currents are caused by the unequal heating of the atmosphere

The Green House Effect The greenhouse effect is the process in which the gases in the atmosphere trap thermal energy Global warming is a rise in the average global temperature The balance between incoming energy and outgoing energy is known as the radiation balance