Weather and Climate Ch3

represents an energy transfer to the absorber. Two affects: The absorber gains energy and warms, while the amount of energy delivered to Earth's surface is reduced. Used by atmospheric gases, particles, and droplets to reduce the intensity of insolation.

a process whereby radiation making contact with some material is redirected away from the surface without being absorbed.

The percentage of visible light reflected by an object or substance.

(One of 2 ways light can be reflected off a surface) When light strikes a mirror it is reflected back as a beam of equal intensity.

(One of 2 ways light can be reflected off a surface) when a beam of light is reflected from an object as a larger number of weaker rays traveling in many different directions.

scattered energy that is redirected and reaches the Earth's surface (in contrast to direct radiation)

Radiation that is not scattered (not diffuse radiation)

(one of 3 categories of scattering) performed by individual gas molecules in the atmosphere, scattering agents smaller than about one-tenth the wavelength of incoming radiation disperse radiaton by Rayleigh Scattering. Shorter wavelengths more easily scattered by individual molecules (hence, blue wavelengths shortest, so sky is blue) [radiates forward and backward]

(one of 3 categories of scattering) [radiates predominantly forward] Microscopic aerosol particles scatter light with Mie Scattering {unlike Rayleigh Scattering, Mie scattering scatters wavelengths of different lengths equally. hence, pollution by Mie scattering makes the sky appear gray}

(one of 3 categories of scattering) Due to tha absence of preference for any particular wavelength, scattering by clouds is called nonselective scattering.

the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface

the range of wavelengths (8 to 12 um) not readily absorbed by atmospheric gases.

the difference between absorbed and emitted longwave radiation

the difference between absorbed and emitted radiation (or the net energy gained or lost by radiation)

(upper few centimeters of the ground) Due to conduction, warming ofthe ground by radiation also makes the sliver of ground under the upper layer (called the laminar boundary layer) hotter than the ground below it.

mixing process in which there is a tendency of lighter fluid (liguid or gases in air) to float upward when surrounded by a heavier fluid.

occurs when a fluid breaks into disorganized swirling motions as it undergoes a large-scale flow.

when energy is added to a substance, an increase in temperature can occur that we can physically sense (ex. - feel heat on a sunny day)

the amount of energy needed to produce a given temperature change per unit mass of the substance.

the energy required to change the phase (state) of a substance

the horizontal movement of heat (mainly by winds)

the interactions that warm the atmosphere

line on a weather map connecting points of equal temperature. Moving along an isotherm there is no change in temperature.

reversal of the normal patterns of the troposphere in which the temperature increases with increasing altitude

athe effect of an inland location that favors greater temperature extremes.

(must contain mercury) used to find the daily maximum temperature

(must contain dyed alcohol) used to find daily low temperature

(measures temperature) two stips of different types of metal bonded together. each type of metal has different rate of expansion and contraction with temperature, so the bend differently with a pointer and scale attached. When connected with a pen, a thermograph is created, continuously recording the temperature.

(created by a bimettalic strip) gives a contnuous record of the temperature.

use electric currents through conductor or semiconductor material exposed to the air. Measures the resistance of the air to the electrical current.

type of resistance thermometer that uses a ceramic semiconductor as opposed to a metallic one.

packages of weather instruments carried by balloons

how cold a temperature feels in contrast to the actual temperature

buildings need a/c to bring temp up to desired temperature based on the idea that if the temp falls below a certain degree as defined by the country, they should expect to turn the heat up.

opposite of heating degree-days

estimate when crops will be ready to be sent to market, very similar to heating-degree days

depict the vertical profiles of temperature and humidity with height above the surface.

type of thermodynamic diagram