Atmosphere (no global winds or currents)

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  • Created by: Hester4
  • Created on: 28-01-17 18:10
Global Heat Budget
The balance between incoming and outgoing solar radiation.
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Insolation
Radiation from the sun. It has to travel through the Earth's atmosphere. Some of the radiation will be reflected by clouds and scattered by gas particles.
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Explain why there is a net gain of solar energy in the Tropical latitudes.
Incoming insolation exceeds outgoing radiation. This is due to the angle at which the radiation hits the earth (more straight on at the equator) meaning there is less atmosphere for the radiation to physically pass through = fewer obstacles.
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Albedo
The reflectivity of a surface e.g. the poles are reflective due to all the white snow which reflects light and radiation making it cooler.
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Explain why there is a net loss of solar energy towards the poles.
Outgoing radiation exceeds incoming insolation due to albedo and the angle at which radiation hits the Earth; it has to pass through physically more atmosphere because the Earth is curved i.e. more deflection/absorption by dust, clouds and gases.
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The Coriolis effect - context of surface winds.
Northern Hemisphere: surface winds are deflected to the right (SW-NE). Southern Hemisphere: to the left (NW-SE).
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Atmospheric circulation that redistributes energy across the globe.
The 3 Cells Model. Hadley, Ferrel and Polar.
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Hadley Cell
At the equator humid air heats up, expands and rises (low pressure). Spreads towards the poles (30N and S), cools and descends (high pressure). Surface Trade winds (NW or SE) move the air back to the equator.
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Polar Cell
Found in the polar latitudes (60-90 N and S). Smaller than the Hadley cell. Cold air sinks at the poles and is moved along the surface warming with contact with land/ocean, then it expands and rises at 60
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Ferrel Cell
Found between the Hadley and Polar cells (30-60 N or S). It is powered by the other two cells; warm air rising at 60 N or S and cool air sinking at 30 N or S.
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Factors which affect the amount of sunlight reflected from the Earth's surface.
Absorption by atmospheric clouds, gases and dust (23%). Reflected by atmospheric clouds, dust, and gases (25%). Reflected/absorbed off/by the Earth's surface by colour i.e. white poles and dark rainforest equator.
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mT and cT
Maritime Tropical air mass (source area = Gulf of Guinea (brings hot and wet conditions). Continental Tropical air mass (source are = Sahara Desert) (brings hot and dry conditions.
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ITCZ
Inter-Tropical-Convergence-Zone where the mT and the cT air masses meet over West Africa.
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Placement of the ITCZ
Normally over the equator, but according to season it moves North or South. This is when the Harmattan wind adiabatically moves the cT changing the shape of the ITCZ.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Radiation from the sun. It has to travel through the Earth's atmosphere. Some of the radiation will be reflected by clouds and scattered by gas particles.

Back

Insolation

Card 3

Front

Incoming insolation exceeds outgoing radiation. This is due to the angle at which the radiation hits the earth (more straight on at the equator) meaning there is less atmosphere for the radiation to physically pass through = fewer obstacles.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

The reflectivity of a surface e.g. the poles are reflective due to all the white snow which reflects light and radiation making it cooler.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Outgoing radiation exceeds incoming insolation due to albedo and the angle at which radiation hits the Earth; it has to pass through physically more atmosphere because the Earth is curved i.e. more deflection/absorption by dust, clouds and gases.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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