Heat and Energy

Energy from the Sun;

100% of the Sun's Radiation

-20% absorbed by clouds & atmosphere

-25% scattered by clouds & air

-5% reflected by surface

50% lost

* Note: Water vapor and carbon dioxide absorbe some of the radiation and help keep the heat within the atmosphere. This contributes to the Greenhouse Effect

* Radiation = transfer of Energy by electromagnetic waves

* Land areas lose heat quickly while water loses heat slowly

* Our atmosphere traps air and moves it around which keeps it regulated

Conduction = transfer of heat through matter by molecular contact

1. metal spoon in hot water

Convection = exchange of heat due to density difference

1. convection currents (such as with hurricanes) causes a constant exchange of cold air and the less dense warm air

a. cold air sinks and forces the less dense warm air to rise

Air Movement and Circulation

I. Convection currents in the atmosphere causes old dense air to sink (near poles) move along the surface and force warm air to rise

A. this movement causes systems of wind

1. if the Earth did not rotate, heated air would rise and sink with equal speed and deflection

2. Since the Earth rotates on it's axis the circulation is affected

* Coriolis Effect is a force that is caused by eastward rotation

* This force causes objects near the Earths surface in the Northern Hemisphere turns west and Southern Hemisphere items to turn eastward