EARTHSC 2GG3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Natural Disaster, Sensible Heat, Latent Heat

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Earth Sciences
• Course: EARTHSC 2GG3
• Professor: Eduard Reinhardt

Document Summary

Energy: atmospheric processes involve huge amounts of energy, three main types: Heat - energy of the random motion of atoms and molecules: two types of heat important for atmospheric processes: Sensible - heat may be sensed or measured. Latent - heat that is absorbed or released when substance changes phase: allows molecules to move quickly enough to break the attractive bonds w other water molecules to move freely, why hurricanes get stronger? as a gas. Transfer through substance by atomic or molecular interaction. Requires difference in temp within substance: convection. Transfer by movement of fluid, such as water or air. An important process in transferring heat in thunderstorms: radiation. Earth"s energy balance: equilibrium b/w incoming and outgoing energy, earth intercepts only fraction of total energy emitted by sun, solar energy drives hydroloic cycle, ocean waves and currents, and global atmospheric circulation.