Ch.3 Geography

the percentage of visable light reflected by an object or substance from the earth.

when light strikes an object and it is refleted back as a beam of equal intensity. Like a miror

when a beam is reflected from an object as a larger number of weaker rays traveling in many different directions. When scattering occurs you cannot see an image of yourself on the reflecting surface.

scattered radiation that is also redirected toward the earth's surface

radiation that reaches the earths surface that is not scattered.

involves gases, smaller than insolation wavelength. Scatters light in all directions. Most effective on short wavelengths. Explains blue sky and orange sunsets.

involves aerosols, larger than gas molecules. Foreward scatter. Equally effective across visible spectrum. Explains hazy, gray days. Refelcts ALL colors of light

water droplets in clouds. clouds appear gray or white.

range of wavelengths, not readily absorbed by atmospheric gases. Represents a certain range of wavelenths of special importance to the radiation balance.

the energy required to change the phase of a substane. like a solid liquid or gas.

like glass, in that it is transparent to incoming shortwave radiation but opaque to outgoing longwave radiation. Therefore it allows in more radiation than is allowed to escape causing the temperature to increase.

lines on a map that show equal temperature.

• 1. Latitude
• 2. Altitude
• 3. Atmospheric Circulation Patterns
• 4. Contrasts Between Land and Water
• 5. Warm and Cold Ocean Currents
• 6. Local Conditions