1. Chapter 3 Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures
Elemental Geosystems 4e
Robert W. Christopherson
Charlie Thomsen

3. Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures
Energy Essentials  
Energy at Earth’s Surface  
Temperature Concepts and Controls  
Earth’s Temperature Patterns 
The Urban Environment

4. Energy Essentials Energy Pathways and Principles
Shortwave energy in from the Sun
Longwave energy out from Earth

5. Insolation
Figure 3.2

6. Energy Pathways
Figure 3.1

7. Energy Pathways Transmission Scattering Refraction
Albedo and Reflection

8. Refraction
Figure 3.4

9. Refraction
Figure 3.3

10. Albedo and Reflection
Figure 3.5

11. Clouds and Albedo
Figure 3.6

12. Heat Transfer Conduction Convection Advection Radiation
Molecule-to-molecule transfer
Convection
Energy transferred by movement
Advection
Horizontally dominant movement
Radiation
Energy traveling through air or space

13. Heat Transfer
Figure 3.7

14. Energy Balance in the Troposphere
The Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric Warming  
Clouds and Earth’s “Greenhouse”  
Earth–Atmosphere Radiation Balance  

15. The Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric Warming
Atmosphere absorbs heat energy
A real greenhouse traps heat inside
Atmosphere delays transfer of heat from Earth into space

16. Clouds and Earth’s “Greenhouse”
Figure 3.8

17. Outgoing Shortwave Energy
Figure 3.9

18. Outgoing Longwave Energy
Figure 3.9

19. Earth–Atmosphere Radiation Budget
Figure 3.10

20. Energy Balance at Earth’s Surface
Daily Radiation Patterns  
Simplified Surface Energy Balance  
The Urban Environment

21. Daily Radiation Patterns
Figure 3.12

22. Simplified Surface Energy Balance
NET R =
+ SW (insolation)
– SW (reflection)
+ LW (infrared)
– LW (infrared)
Figure 3.13

23. Temperature Concepts and Controls
Temperature Scales
Measuring Temperature 
Principal Temperature Controls  
Land–Water Heating Differences

24. Temperature Scales   
Fahrenheit
Celsius
Kelvin 

25. Temperature Scales
Figure 3.15

26. Principal Temperature Controls
Latitude  
Affects insolation
Altitude  
High altitude has greater daily range
High altitude has lower annual average
Cloud Cover  
High albedo
Moderate temperatures – cooler days, warmer nights

27. Effects of Latitude
Figure 3.17

28. Altitude
Figure 3.18

29. Land–Water Heating Differences
Evaporation
Transparency
Specific heat
Movement
Ocean currents and sea surface temperatures
Marine vs. continental effects

30. Land–Water Heating Differences
Figure 3.20

31. The Gulf Stream
Figure 3.21

32. Marine and Continental Climates
Figure 3.23

33. Marine and Continental Climates
Figure 3.25

34. Earth’s Temperature Patterns
January Temperature Map  
Thermal equator movement southward
More movement over large continents
July Temperature Map  
Thermal equator movement northward
Annual Range of Temperatures
Continentality

35. January Temperatures
Figure 3.24

36. July Temperatures
Figure 3.26

37. Global Temperature Ranges
Figure 3.28

38. The Urban Environment
Figure 3.29

41. Urban Heat Island
Figure 3.30

43. Air Temperature and the Human Body
Wind chill
Correlates cold and wind speed
Heat index
Correlates heat and humidity

44. Wind Chill Table
Figure 1

45. Heat Index Table
Figure 2

46. Elemental Geosystems 4e
End of Chapter 3
Elemental Geosystems 4e
Robert W. Christopherson
Charlie Thomsen