Earth Sun relations Earth Sun Relations The Atmosphere Plane of the Ecliptic Earth motions Rotates on its axis Revolves around the Sun Seasons Result of constant axial tilt Changing Sun angle Changing length of daylight Plane of the Ecliptic Sun incidence Sun Angle Mid Latitude Sun Angle High Latitude Earth Sun Relations Sun Angle Equator 1 Sun Angle with Latitude Solar latitudes Sun incidence Earth Sun relations Special days Equinox and Solstice Highest Sun Solstice Sun s vertical rays are located at the Tropic 23 latitude June 21 22 December 21 22 Equinox Sun s vertical rays located at the Equator 0o latitude March 21 22 September 21 22 Lowest Sun Midnight Sun Daylight at Solar latitudes 2 Atmospheric heating Mechanisms of heat transfer Heat is always transferred from warmer to cooler objects Mechanisms of heat transfer The electromagnetic spectrum Conduction Convection Radiation electromagnetic radiation Figure 16 16 The heating of the atmosphere Average distribution of incoming solar radiation Figure 16 21 Composition of the atmosphere Air is a mixture of gases Major components of clean dry air Nitrogen N 78 Oxygen O2 21 Argon and other gases Carbon dioxide CO2 0 036 absorbs heat energy from Earth Figure 16 19 Variable components of air Figure 16 17 Proportional volume of gases that compose dry air Figure 16 3 Dust and aerosols Water vapor Aerosols Ozone 3 Thermal structure of the atmosphere Atmospheric pressure variation with altitude Atmospheric layers based on temperature Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Figure 16 5 Figure 16 7 Weather instrument shelter Weather Balloon North America isotherms Temperature measurement Daily maximum and minimum are measured Other values calculated from these Isotherm Line of equal temperature Divides map into areas warmer than that temperature and areas cooler than that temperature Maps with isotherms use constant difference from one isotherm to the next Often colored for ease of understanding Daily temperature range Daily mean temperature Monthly mean temperature Annual mean temperature Annual temperature range Monthly Temperatures vs Latitude 4 Temperature comparison Vancouver Winnepeg Land water relationship Temperature comparison Quito Guayaquil Water moderates the temperature Warmer winters and cooler summers near large bodies of water Changes in temperature with change in elevation Two different mechanisms Earth s atmosphere is heated from below Gases cool as they expand Earth s atmosphere is heated from below Cloudy day It is warmer closer to the sea level It is cooler at higher altitudes Environmental lapse rate About 6 5o C 1000 m About 3 5o F 1000 ft Cloudy night Cloudiness Temperature comparison Eureka NYC Daytime clouds shade surface reflect energy away from area Nighttime clouds blanket area reflect heat energy back toward Earth s surface 5 Temperature comparison Seattle Spokane Geographic position North America isotherms Western sides of ocean basins get equatorial heat from ocean currents More moderate winter temperatures on east coasts of continents Eastern sides of ocean basins have cold polar currents Cooler year round temperatures on west coasts of continents Controls of Temperature Day length Sun angle Land water relationship Geographic position relative to general circulation of the atmosphere and ocean Altitude Cloudiness July temperature General circulation of the atmosphere January temperature Jan and July temps 6
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