Weather and Climate Ch2

An agent capabe of setting an object in motion

Standanrd unit of measurement of energy in scientific applications

rate at which energy is released, transferred, or received.

The unit of power

The energy emitted by the sun and transferred to the Earth. Provides energy for movement of the atmosphere, growth of plants, evaporation of water etc.

(as opposed to Potential Energy) Energy in use/of motion

(as opposed to Kinetic Energy) Energy that hasn't yet been used

(one of 3 energy transfer mecahnisms) The movement of heat through a substance without the movement of molecules in the direction of heat transfer (ex. - a metal rod held partially over fire, part of rod over fire heats, which makes the part of rod not over fire heat as well by heating the molecules next to the ones over the fire)

(one of 3 energy transfer mechanisms) The transfer of heat by the mixing of a fluid

The tendency for a light fluid (liquid or gas) to float upward when surrounded by a heavier fluid

(one of 3 energy transfer mechanisms) [The only one of the 3 that can occur without a transfer medium] The transfer of energy through empty space.

the distance between any two corresponding points along the wave

unit measurement of wavelengths

perfect emitters of radiation that emit the maximum possible radiation at every wavelength, purely hypothetical, do not really exist

states that a doubling of temperature produces MORE than a doubling of the amount of radiation emitted.

emit some percentage of the maximum radiation possible at a given temperature (most liquids and solids are graybodies, as blackbodies don't exist)

The percentage of energy radiated by a substance relative to that of a blackbody.

tells us that hotter objects radiate at shorter wavelengths than do cool objects.

radiation with wavelengths less than 4 um (microns)

radiation with wavelengths longer than 4 um (microns)

Interior of the sun, where nuclear fusion is produces energy that is ultimately radiated to the Earth.

states that as the distance of the sun increases, the intensity of the radiation deminishes in porportion of the distnace squared.

the "constant" (steady) solar output of an object

the seasonal and latitudinal receipt of incoming solar radiation

The imaginary plane on which Earth orbits the sun for 365 1/4 days (1 year)

Earth's annual trip around the ecliptic plane (around the sun)

the point at which Earth is nearest to the sun (around Jan 4)

the point at which Earthh is farthest from the sun (Around July 4)

the spinning motion Earth undergoes around its axis every 24 hours

Earth's axis is always pointed in the same direction and always at the same star. This star is called Polaris (The North Star)

(summer solstice for northern hem, winter for southern hem) The point at which the Northern Hemisphere has its maximum tilt rowards the sun (around June 21), first day of summer

(winter solstice for Northern Hem, summer sol for southern hem) The point at which Earth is at its minimum availibility of solar radiation

Intermediate between the two soltices, every place on Earth has 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night

23.5 degrees N., the most northward lattitude at which the subsolar point (the point at which the earth and the sun's rays meet at a right angle) is located during the summer solstice. The sun never appears directly overhead above this point.

23.5 degrees S., same as Tropic of Cancer only to the south and occurs during the winter solstice

the latitudinal position of the subsolar point

line of lattitude of 66.5 degrees N.), northern limit of which experiences 24 hours of daylight or darkness

line of lattitude of 66.5 degrees S.), southern limit of which experiences 24 hours of daylight or darkness

the increase in the surface area over which radiation is distributed in response to a decrease in of solar angle. The greater the spreading, the less intense the radiation is.