Wednesday April 11, 2012 (Atmospheric Heating and Temperature)

The Launch Pad Wednesday, 4/11/12 What % of solar radiation reaching Earth is absorbed into the surface, and what % is reflected? 50% - 50%

Assignment Currently Open Summative or Formative Date IssuedDate Due Date Into Grade Speed Last Day Quiz 24S53/23 4/11 WS - The Coastal Zone and Waves F3/273/30 Quiz 25S63/30 4/11 WS – Weather, Climate, and the Atmosphere F4/24/5 WS – The Structure of the Atmosphere F4/44/10 Activity – Write Test Questions on Atmospheric Heating S4/10

Announcements I will be available after school today until 5:15.

Latest News chemistry_of_cooking.htm A Biochemist Explains The Chemistry Of Cooking Click below for article:

Average Distribution of Incoming Solar Radiation Figure 16.20

Short wavelengths (blue and violet) of visible light are scattered more effectively than are longer wavelengths (red, orange.) Therefore, when the Sun is overhead and observer can look in any direction and see predominately blue light that was selectively scattered by the gases in the atmosphere. By contrast, at sunset, the path that light must take through the atmosphere is much longer. Consequently, most of the blue light is scattered before it reaches the observer. Thus, the Sun appears reddish in color.

Atmospheric Heating Earth re-radiates radiation (terrestrial radiation) at the longer wavelengths. Longer wavelength terrestrial radiation is absorbed by carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere. The lower atmosphere is thereby heated from Earth’s surface. Heating of the atmosphere in this manner is termed the greenhouse effect.

The Heating of the Atmosphere

Temperature Measurement The most common temperature measurement of our atmosphere is daily maximum and minimum. Other temperature measurements include: daily mean temperature daily range monthly mean annual mean annual temperature range

Mean monthly temperatures for two locations in Canada Figure Mean monthly temperatures for two coastal locations

Temperature Measurement From a human perspective, anything that influences the rate of heat loss from the body also influences the sensation of temperature. Important factors for human perception of temperature are: air temperature relative humidity wind speed sunshine

Controls of Temperature Temperature variations are controlled by several factors: Receipt of solar radiation is the most important control. Another important control of temperature variation is differential heating of land and water. Land heats more rapidly than water, so land gets hotter than water, cools faster than water, therefore land can also get cooler than water.

Controls of Temperature Temperature variations are controlled by several factors: Other important controls of temperature variation include: altitude geographic position cloud cover albedo