2. Seasons And Solar Energy Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 2. Seasons And Solar Energy Deck (36)
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1
Q

plane of the ecliptic

A

flat plane traced by the orbital paths of the planets in the solar system

2
Q

subsolar point

A

single point at which the Sun’s rays are perpendicular to Earth’s surface at or near noon; restricted to between 23.5° north and south latitude

3
Q

tropic of cancer

A

the 23.5° north parallel; the maximum latitude of the subsolar point in the northern hemisphere

4
Q

tropic of capricorn

A

the 23.5 south parallel; the maximum latitude of the subsolar point in the southern hemisphere

5
Q

circle of illumination

A

line separating night from day, where sunrise and sunset are occurring

6
Q

solar altitude

A

altitude of the Sun above the horizon in degrees

7
Q

December solstice

A

seasonal marker that occurs when the subsolar point is at 23.5° south, on about December 21.

8
Q

March equinox

A

seasonal marker that occurs when the subsolar point is over the equator about March 20

9
Q

June solstice

A

a seasonal marker that occurs when the subsolar point is 23.5° north latitude about June 21

10
Q

September Equinox

A

seasonal marker that occurs when the subsolar point is over the equator about September 22

11
Q

Arctic Circle

A

the 66.5° north parallel

12
Q

Antarctic Circle

A

the 66.5° south parallel

13
Q

heat-index temperature

A

temperature perceived by people as a result of high atmospheric humidity coupled with high air temperatures.

14
Q

temperature

A

average kinetic movement of atoms and molecules of a substance

15
Q

heat

A

internal energy transferred between materials or systems due to their temperature differences

16
Q

conduction

A

process by which energy is transferred through a substance or between objects in direct contact

17
Q

convection

A

transfer of heat through movement of mass within a fluid (liquid or gas)

18
Q

radiation

A

process by which wave energy travels through the vacuum of space or through a physical medium such as air or water

19
Q

continental effect

A

increase in seasonality with distance from the oceans

20
Q

specific heat

A

heat required to raise the temperature of any object or material by a given amount

21
Q

Radiant Energy (radiation)

A

energy propagated in the form of electromagnetic waves, including visible light and heat

22
Q

electromagnetic spectrum (EMS)

A

full range of wavelengths of radiant energy

23
Q

longwave radiation (LWR)

A

radiation with wavelengths longer than 4 Mm

24
Q

shortwave radiation (SWR)

A

solar radiation with wavelengths shorter than 4Mm; includes visible sunlight

25
Q

visible radiation (or light)

A

portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that people can see

26
Q

infrared radiation (IR)

A

electromagnetic radiation that has wavelengths longer than visible radiation

27
Q

insulation (incoming solar radiation)

A

solar radiation that reaches earth

28
Q

transmission

A

unimpeded movement of electromagnetic energy through a medium such as air, water, or glass

29
Q

scattering

A

process of redirecting solar radiation in random directions as it strikes physical matter

30
Q

reflection

A

process of returning a portion of the radiation striking a surface in the general direction from which it came

31
Q

albedo

A

reflectivity of a surface, given as the percentage of incoming radiation that it reflects

32
Q

urban heat island

A

urbanized region that is significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas

33
Q

radiative equilibrium temperature

A

temperature of an object resulting from the balance between incoming and outgoing energy

34
Q

greenhouse effect

A

process by which the atmosphere is warmed as greenhouse gases (water vapour, CO2, and methane) and clouds absorb and counterradiate heat

35
Q

global heat engine

A

movement of heat from low to high latitudes and low to high altitudes as a result of heating differences

36
Q

renewable energy

A

energy that comes from sources that are not depleted when used, such as sunlight or wind