Climate Basics

1) Troposphere - it contains 80% of the Atmosphere and extends 12km. The average temperature decrease is -6.4dc/1km. Over the equator the troposphere is 16km and averages at -80dc, however, over the poles is it 8km and averages -40dc

2) Stratosphere - extends from 12-50km. Temperatures rise with altitude due to the high 03 concentration where as water vapour levels decrease so there aren't many clouds. This layer is stable (ie not turbulent)

3) Mesosphere- extends from 50-90km. Temperatures decrease to -120dc due to the lack of water vapour, cloud, dust or ozone to absorb incoming radiation. There are strong winds in this layer (upto 3000km/h)

4) Thermosphere - extends from 90km upto arouund 1000km. Temperatures increase with altitude and can vary diurnally by hundred of dc

• Urbanisation - urban surfaces absorb heat quickly
• Cloud Cover - Clouds absorb and reflect energy
• Aspect - the direction a slope faces
• Seasonal Changes - insolation varies throughout the seasons
• Diurnal Changes - insolation aries througuhout the day
• Ocean Coneyor Belt and Currents - warm and cold water migrates around the planet
• Prevailing Winds - where the winds blow from
• Proportion of land and sea - They have different albedos
• Altitude of the Sun - At higher latitudes energy has to penetrate more atmosphere
• Altitude of Land - higher land is further from the manin heat source (air density also decreases adding to the cooling effect

The Solar Constant - varies long term weather variations

Distance frrom the sun - the Earth's eliptical shape varies the sun's solar constant by 6dc

Altitude of the Sun in the Sky - the equator recieves more solar radiation than the poles

Length of the Day and Night - Some regions near the poles recieve no insolation at periods in the year