GEOG 131 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2.13-2.15: Shortwave Radiation, Solar Irradiance, Outgoing Longwave Radiation
Document Summary
Approximately 69% of the energy remains in earth"s system: 49% absorbed and heats the earth"s surface, 20% stored. Shortest wavelength has highest energy: uv-c > uv-b > uv-a, nearly all of uv-a (longest and least energy) is transmitted to the surface. Low-level clouds- clouds in lower part of the troposphere: can be highly re ective. Circus clouds- clouds higher in the atmosphere: less re ective; only 50% High level clouds- middle to upper troposphere. Albedo- percentage of insolation that is re ected by an object. Clouds on average re ect 20% of the planets total insolation back to space. Ground heat- insolation retained by the land. Shortwave radiation that reaches earth"s surface can be converted into other forms of energy: sensible heat, latent heat, absorbed and reemitted as longwave radiation. Outgoing longwave radiation (olr)- energy emitted via long wave radiation to the surrounding atmosphere or even back down to earth. Wednesday, september 20, 2017: aka greenhouse effect.
