Chapter 4Atmosphere and Surface Energy BalancesRobert W. ChristophersonCharlie ThomsenAtmosphere and Surface Energy BalancesEnergy EssentialsEnergy Balance in the TroposphereEnergy Balance at Earth’s SurfaceEnergy EssentialsEnergy Pathways and PrinciplesShortwave energy in from the SunLongwave energy out from EarthTransmissionPassage of energy through atmosphere or waterEnergy PathwaysFigure 4.1Energy PathwaysInsolation inputAll radiation received at Earth’s surface – direct and indirectScatteringChanging direction of light’s movement, without altering its wavelengthsRefractionChange in speed and direction of lightInsolation at Earth’s SurfaceFigure 4.2What are the factors influencing the amount of insolation at Earth surface?RefractionFigure 4.4We see sunrise ~4 mins before it isactually above the horizon dueto atm. refraction.Energy PrinciplesAlbedo and reflectionClouds, aerosols, and the atmosphere’s albedoAbsorptionAlbedoFigure 4.5July and January AlbedosFigure 4.6Clouds and AlbedoFigure 4.7Atmospheric AerosolsFigure 4.8Heat TransferConductionMolecule-to-molecule transfer ConvectionEnergy transferred by vertical movementAdvectionHorizontally dominant movementRadiationEnergy traveling through air or spaceHeat TransferFigure 4.9Energy Balance in the TroposphereThe Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric WarmingClouds and Earth’s “Greenhouse”Earth–Atmosphere Radiation BalanceThe Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric WarmingAtmosphere absorbs heat energyA real greenhouse traps heat insideAtmosphere delays transfer of heat from Earth into spaceClouds and ForcingFigure 4.10Shortwave and Longwave EnergyFigure 4.11Earth–Atmosphere Radiation BalanceFigure 4.12Energy Budget by LatitudeFigure 4.13Energy Balance at Earth’s SurfaceDaily Radiation PatternsSimplified Surface Energy BalanceThe Urban EnvironmentDaily Radiation CurvesFigure 4.14Surface Energy BudgetFigure 4.15Simplified Surface Energy BalanceNET R =+SW (insolation)–SW (reflection)+LW (infrared)–LW (infrared)Figure 4.16Global NET RFigure 4.17Global Latent HeatFigure 4.18Global Sensible HeatFigure 4.19Solar Cooking SolutionFigure FS 4.1.1Solar EnergyFigure FS 4.1.2Radiation BudgetsFigure 4.20El Mirage, CAPitt Meadows,BCThe Urban EnvironmentFigure 4.21Urban Heat IslandFigure 4.22Urban Heat IslandPilotProjectFigure 4.23Robert W. ChristophersonCharlie ThomsenGeosystems 7eAn Introduction to Physical GeographyEnd of Chapter
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