GGY 130 1st Edition Lecture 5 3)Transmission: process by which solar radiation passes through a matter with a measurable attenuation Transmission ability depends on material types and wavelength 4) Scattering: process by which solar radiation spreads out in unpredictable directions Amount of scattering depends on: Abundance and size of atmospheric particles Distance waves travel in the atmosphere Wavelength of radiation Types of Scattering: Rayliegh Scatter (selective): occurs when diameter of the atmospheric particles is smaller than the wavelength of radiation - Dominant scattering mechanism in the upper atmosphere- On a clear day, skies appear blue because shorter wavelengths (blue and violet) are scattered more than longer wavelengths (red) Mie Scatter: occurs when the diameter of atmospheric particles are equal to the wavelength of radiation- Dominant scattering mechanism in the lower atmosphere Nonselective Scatter: occurs when the diameter of the atmospheric particles is larger than the wavelength of radiation - Dominant scattering mechanism in the lowest portion of the atmosphere- When the atmosphere contains large quantities of larger particles, all wavelengths are more equally scattered, thus giving clouds a white colour. 5) Conduction: process by which heat energy transfers between twotouching objects Metals are excellent conductors Dry air is a poor conductor Only the lower portion of the atmosphere is affected by heat from the ground surface 6) Convection: process by which heat energy transfers vertically from one point to another Major cause of cloud formation 7) Advection: process by which heat energy moves horizontally fromone point to another Major advection agents within the Earth’s atmosphere system include winds and oceanic
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