GEO 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Background Radiation, Spherical Earth, Heat Capacity
15 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Solar radiation is the atmosphere"s heat source. Most gases are transparent to solar radiation: they do absorb terrestrial radiation. The global energy budget: a balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation. Depends on angle of the sun above the horizon. Average insolation over a 24-hour day depends on: Angle at which sun"s rays strike earth: controlled by latitude, time of year, time of day. How long the place is exposed to sun"s rays: controlled by latitude and time of year. Insolation: the flow of solar energy intercepted by an exposed surface assuming a uniformly spherical earth with no atmosphere. Intensity of incoming solar radiation (insolation) is related to angle of incidence. Beam depletion: solar radiation diminished relative to path length. High solar angles = small energy reductions. Changes in energy receipt with latitude: solar angle, day length, and beam depletion equal. If parameters were changed a new equilibrium occurs: balances.
