1. Atmosphere & Solar Energy
#13

2. Structure of the Atmosphere
Four layers
Troposphere (temp ↓)
Lowest layer of Earth’s Atmosphere
Most weather occurs
Stratosphere (temp ↑)
Concentrated ozone (O3)
absorbs ultraviolet radiation.
Mesosphere (temp ↓)
Meteorites
Thermosphere (temp ↑ 1000°C)
Smallest portion of mass
Contains the Ionosphere

3. Atmospheric Structure

5. Ionosphere Electrically charged particles Aurora
Charged particles from the sun attracted to earths magnetic poles
Oxygen = green or red
Nitrogen = blue or crimson

7. Solar Energy Drives earth’s processes Insulation Radiation Conduction
No medium required
Conduction
contact
effect tiny portion of atmosphere near surface
Convection
motion
Main mechanism for air movement
Insulation
measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time
3 things happen with insolation
Reflect back up into space (30%)
Absorbed in atmosphere (23%)
Absorbed by earths surface (47%)

8. Energy Budget

9. Energy Variations Earth moving in two ways Earths axis is tilted
Rotation
Spinning on an axis
Revolution
Movement of a body around another
Effects where energy hits the surface
Earths axis is tilted
23.5º
If not tilted then no seasons

10. Energy Amount of solar radiation received varies due to axis
3 regions with similar temperatures
Tropics
most radiation.
between 23.5° north and south of the equator
Temperate zones
between 23.5° and 66.5°
Polar zones
located from 66.5° to the poles.
least radiation

11. Local Temperature Variations
2 factors
Intensity of Insulation
Factors effecting intensity
Time of day – noon is most intense
Latitude – equator most intense
Time of year – northern hemisphere summer is most intense
Characteristic of material
Color
dark absorbs more energy
Specific heat capacity
Ability to store energy
Surface type
rough absorbs more energy

12. Intensity of insolation

13. Heating of Water vs. Land
Insulation warms top few cm of soil
Heat not spread easily
Low specific heat
Water
Insulation can warm many meters deep
Spreads heat easily because of convection
High specific heat
3x as much as land