GEOG 2050 Chapter : Chapter 4 & 5 Exam 2
Document Summary
Key concepts: transmission, scattering, diffusion, refraction, mirage, reflection, albedo, absorption, rayleigh scattering. Energy essentials: monday, energy balance at the troposphere, wednesday, energy balance at the earth"s surface, friday. Solar radiation varies: output from sun, distance of earth from sun, daily, seasonally, latitudes. Atmosphere functions as a filter: absorbs, gamma rays, x-rays, uv, allow visible to reach earth"s surface. Insolation at earth"s surface: insolation input all radiation received at earth"s surface direct and indirect. Energy pathways: insolation in the atmosphere encounters gases, dust, clouds, and smoke, ~45% of insolation makes it to the earth"s surface, these particles can either, scatter, absorb, reflect, refract. Scattering: changing direction of light"s movement, without altering its wavelength. Absorption: the assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter. The conversion of energy from one form to another: heats the earth"s atmosphere. Reflection: insolation (light) is bounced off a surface without being absorbed or scattered. Refraction: change in speed and direction of light.
