Chapter 4 pt 4 Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Chapter 4 pt 4 Deck (35)
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1
Q

Transmission

A

Energy passes uninterrupted through the atmosphere or water

2
Q

Energy Budget

A

a balance between shortwave energy received and longwave radiation lost

input (shortwave) – output (longwave)

3
Q

Scattering is the:

A

physical interaction between incoming radiation and:

  • Atmospheric gases
  • dust
  • cloud droplets
  • water vapour
  • pollutants

redirection without changing wavelength

4
Q

Why is the sky blue?

A
  • Violet and blue light: shorter wavelengths (scatter first)
  • Red and yellow light: longest wavelength (travels the farthest)
  • when light hits a gas molecule in our atmosphere, it is absorbed
  • high frequency blues and violets get absorbed more
  • the gas molecule then radiates the light in different directions (colour that was radiated is the same colour that was absorbed)

(Raleigh scattering)

5
Q

Why is the sunset red?

A
  • when the sun sets its further away from you
  • the path to get to your eyes is longer, therefore the chance of the longwave red and yellow light hitting gas molecules is higher
  • the light also travels through the lower atmosphere, which has a greater concentration of particles
  • these particles reflect the light that hit them
6
Q

Mie Scattering

A

The larger particles in the atmosphere (larger than the wavelengths of light) cause the sky to appear white
(haze, pollution)

in a very hazy/polluted area, all wavelengths of light are scattered evenly, making the human eye perceive it as white

7
Q

Refraction

A

Bending of light resulting from a change in medium.

Insolation entering the atmosphere changes mediums. this causes a shift in speed and causes the light to bend (shift direction)

8
Q

Albedo

A

(reflectivity of an object). the percentage of insolation that is reflected

9
Q

Absorption

A

the assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter, converting the radiation from one form of energy to another

10
Q

Clouds reflect ____

A

shortwave radiation

11
Q

Clouds absorb _____

A

longwave radiation

12
Q

Longwave radiation is absorbed in the atmosphere by:

A
carbon dioxide
water vapour
methane
nitrous oxide
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
13
Q

Cloud albedo forcing

A

Low, thick stratus clouds reflect about 90% of insolation

High-altitude, ice-crystal clouds reflect only about 50%

14
Q

Cloud greenhouse forcing

A

Clouds, mainly high-altitude, ice-crystal clouds trap longwave radiation emitted from earth

15
Q

Jet contrails create…

A

condensation trails that produce high cirrus clouds, which trap more radiation than it reflects.

16
Q

Energy budget between the tropics

A

Energy surplus

17
Q

Energy budget at the poles

A

Energy deficits

18
Q

Daily Radiation Patterns

A

Maximum daily temperature lags by several hours (~3:00-4:00 pm)
Due to time it takes for energy to transfer (nonradiative & radiative)

19
Q

Boundary layer

A

the lower atmosphere at the Earth’s surface where energy and moisture are continually exchanged

20
Q

Microclimates (smaller than Boundary Layer Climates)

A

are local climate conditions over a relatively small area (i.e. parks, or parking lots)

21
Q

Net radiation

A

the sum of all radiation gains and losses

  • positive during the day
  • negative during the night
22
Q

Non-radiative ways to lose heat

A

3 WAYS

  1. Latent heat of evaporation
  2. Sensible heat
  3. Ground heating and cooling

**

23
Q

Urban Heat Island

A

An urban micro-climate that is warmer on average than areas in the surrounding countryside due to interaction between solar radiation and various surface characteristics

24
Q

heating is increased by modified urban surfaces:

A
(6)
asphalt 
glass
building geometry
pollution
human activity
industry and transportation
25
Q

Earth emits…

A

Longer wavelengths

26
Q

The sun emits…

A

Shorter wavelengths

27
Q

What happens to incoming radiation? (4)

A

Reflection
Scattering
Refraction
Absorption

28
Q

Earth’s average albedo

A

31%

29
Q

The theory behind why the sky is blue is called

A

Raleigh Scattering

30
Q

Atmospheric Window

A

?

31
Q

KEXT

A

Extraterrestrial Irradiance

32
Q

Energy Budget

A

Surplus of energy at the equator

Deficit nearer towards the poles

33
Q

Imbalance in energy is resolved by (3)

A

Atmospheric circulations
Oceanic circulations
Dynamic weather systems

34
Q

Dynamic weather systems

A

Storms, Tornados, Hurricanes etc.

W

35
Q

Boundary Layer Climate

A

???