Earth Sun relations Earth Sun Relations p 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 Equator Sun Angle Mid Latitude Sun Angle High Latitude Sun Angle with Latitude 1 Solar latitudes Earth Sun relations Special days Highest Sun Solstice Sun s vertical rays are located at the Tropic 23 latitude June 21 22 21 22 22 December 21 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 Atmospheric heating Mechanisms of heat transfer The electromagnetic spectrum Heat is always transferred from warmer to cooler objects Mechanisms of heat transfer Conduction Convection Radiation electromagnetic radiation Figure 16 16 Figure 16 17 2 The heating of the atmosphere Average distribution of incoming solar radiation Figure 16 21 Figure 16 19 Composition of the atmosphere Air is a mixture of gases Major components of clean dry air Proportional volume of gases that compose dry air Nitrogen N 78 O Oxygen O2 21 Argon and other gases Carbon dioxide CO2 0 036 absorbs heat energy from Earth Variable components of air Figure 16 3 Dust and aerosols Water vapor Aerosols Ozone 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 3
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