Chapter 3 Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures

Chapter 3Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures Elemental Geosystems 4e Robert W. Christopherson Charlie Thomsen

Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures • Energy Essentials • Energy at Earth’s Surface • Temperature Concepts and Controls • Earth’s Temperature Patterns • The Urban Environment

Energy Essentials • Energy Pathways and Principles • Shortwave energy in from the Sun • Longwave energy out from Earth

Insolation Figure 3.2

Energy Pathways Figure 3.1

Energy Pathways • Transmission • Scattering • Refraction • Albedo and Reflection

Refraction Figure 3.4

Refraction Figure 3.3

Albedo and Reflection Figure 3.5

Clouds and Albedo Figure 3.6

Heat Transfer • Conduction • Molecule-to-molecule transfer • Convection • Energy transferred by movement • Advection • Horizontally dominant movement • Radiation • Energy traveling through air or space

Heat Transfer Figure 3.7

Energy Balance in the Troposphere • The Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric Warming • Clouds and Earth’s “Greenhouse” • Earth–Atmosphere Radiation Balance

The Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric Warming • Atmosphere absorbs heat energy • A real greenhouse traps heat inside • Atmosphere delays transfer of heat from Earth into space

Clouds and Earth’s “Greenhouse” Figure 3.8

Outgoing Shortwave Energy Figure 3.9

Outgoing Longwave Energy Figure 3.9

Earth–Atmosphere Radiation Budget Figure 3.10

Energy Balance at Earth’s Surface • Daily Radiation Patterns • Simplified Surface Energy Balance • The Urban Environment

Daily Radiation Patterns Figure 3.12

Simplified Surface Energy Balance • NET R = • + SW (insolation) • – SW (reflection) • + LW (infrared) • – LW (infrared) Figure 3.13

Temperature Concepts and Controls • Temperature Scales • Measuring Temperature • Principal Temperature Controls • Land–Water Heating Differences

Temperature Scales • Fahrenheit • Celsius • Kelvin

Temperature Scales Figure 3.15

Principal Temperature Controls • Latitude • Affects insolation • Altitude • High altitude has greater daily range • High altitude has lower annual average • Cloud Cover • High albedo • Moderate temperatures – cooler days, warmer nights

Effects of Latitude Figure 3.17

Altitude Figure 3.18

Land–Water Heating Differences • Evaporation • Transparency • Specific heat • Movement • Ocean currents and sea surface temperatures • Marine vs. continental effects

Land–Water Heating Differences Figure 3.20

The GulfStream Figure 3.21

Marine and Continental Climates Figure 3.23

Marine and Continental Climates Figure 3.25

Earth’s Temperature Patterns • January Temperature Map • Thermal equator movement southward • More movement over large continents • July Temperature Map • Thermal equator movement northward • More movement over large continents • Annual Range of Temperatures • Continentality

January Temperatures Figure 3.24

July Temperatures Figure 3.26

Global Temperature Ranges Figure 3.28

The Urban Environment Figure 3.29

Urban Heat Island Figure 3.30

Air Temperature and the Human Body • Wind chill • Correlates cold and wind speed • Heat index • Correlates heat and humidity

Wind Chill Table Figure 1

Heat Index Table Figure 2

End of Chapter 3 Elemental Geosystems 4e Robert W. Christopherson Charlie Thomsen

Chapter 3 Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures