ATM OCN 100 Exam 2

planet with no atmosphere

same ingoing and outgoing radiation (radiative equilibrium)

factors effecting average temperature

ocean currents, elevation above sea level, and proximity to water

stratus clouds

reflect incoming solar radiation (high latitude summer is characterized by this)

Greenhouse effect

retention of IR by the atmosphere

nothing in the atm absorbs...

visible light so it goes to Earth's surface

reflection

when a wave of electromagnetic radiation, incident upon an object at some angle of incidence, bounces off that object at the same angle

scattering

when light bounces off an object at any angle

radiative equilibrium

when the rate of absorption of solar equals the rate of emission of terrestrial IR

seasonal temperature lag

why the max radiation does not mean the temperature is the highest because of this (max radiation occurs but oceans take longer to heat up so the lag occurs)

speed =

(wavelength) x (frequency)

how is transfer accomplished?

- 30% latent heat (water evaporates in tropics) - 40% sensible heat (mid-latitude cyclones) - 30% ocean currents (warm poleward currents)

length of the day

- June 22, daylight is longer with increasing latitude - long path lengths allows for more absorption by particles and scattering

Venus

- clouds reflect almost all incoming solar - sulphuric acid clouds - greenhouse effect is prevalent

why does the earth have seasons?

- earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours - earth revolves around the sun once every 365 1/4 days a year

daily temp cycle

- lowest temp right after sunrise - highest temp a few hours after noontime

summer

- max radiation on June 21 - incoming > outgoing radiation so warm - temp increases until incoming = outgoing

winter

- min incoming radiation on Dec. 21 - outgoing > incoming radiation so cold - temp decreases until outgoing = incoming

max temperature

- most intense radiation occurs at noontime - warmest temp is when incoming = outgoing - 3-5 pm on a sunny breezy day

angle of incidence

- much bigger area in which radiation is spread when it is tilted more - intensity per area is less tho

scattering depends on

- size of the particles - size of the wavelength

our atm absorbs some

IR radiation but it is also transparent to some

radiative equilibrium

S= Ec

a small increase in the temp of an object can lead to...

a huge increase in its emitted radiation

frequency

a measure of how many wave crests pass a point in 1 second

what is the difference between a planet with an atmosphere and one without one in regards to temp?

a planet with selective absorbers is greater than the temp of a planet w/out an atm

radiation can be

absorbed, reflected, and transmitted

glass

absorbs IR and transmits visible

selective absorber

absorbs some wavelengths and transparent to others (the atmosphere)

longer path lengths means

all except longest wavelengths are totally scattered

black body

an object that is a perfect emitter and absorber

our atm is composed of selectively absorbing gasses

atmospheric windows

snow radiates lots of energy away during long nights

creates frigid arctic air masses in northern Canada and Alaska

how does radiant energy travel?

electro magnetic waves

what do objects above absolute zero do?

emit radiation

where never sees the sunset

everywhere above 66.5 degrees

short wave lengths =

high energy

summer solstice

highest angle of incidence and also the sun is directly above the northern hemisphere

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

how much energy is emitted by an object is based upon its temp

refraction

if a light wave is incident to an angle, the slowdown causes the wave to bend

Kirchoffs Law

if an object is a good emitter at a wavelength it is also a good absorber at that wavelength

refraction

if light passes through a less dense medium to a more dense medium at an angle it causes the wave to bend

earth emits almost all of its radiation at

infra-red wavelengths

earth's atm has a preference and does not act as a black body

it absorbs and emits IR radiation

if an object emits more radiation than it absorbs then..

it is colder

if an object emits less radiation than it absorbs then..

it is warmer

refraction in rainbows

light is refracted twice but reflected once

high wavelengths

little scattering

earth's radiation is known as

longwave

short wavelengths

lots of scattering

long wave lengths =

low energy

speed

measure of how far a wavecrest moves in 1 second (all electromagnetic waves have the same speed)

molecules in the atmosphere are (blank) and scatter (blank) best

selective scatters and scatter short wavelengths best

what wavelengths are refracted the most?

short wavelengths

sun's radiation is known as

shortwave

the amount of electromagnetic radiation depends on?

temp of the object

radiant energy

the energy transferred from the sun and your face is a version of this

the higher the objects temperature...

the faster the vibrations of electrons

where does radiative equilibrium exist?

the surface and top of the atmosphere

Wein's displacement law

the wavelength of max emission depends on temp.

if the atm absorbs some outgoing IR then..

there will be a presence of CO2 and H2O

planet with atmosphere

transparent to solar radiation translucent to infrared radiation