“Energy in Earth Processes”

A. Closed Energy System: There is an exchange of energy, but not mass. I. Conservation of Energy Law: energy is neither created nor destroyed but transformed to another form. A. Closed Energy System: There is an exchange of energy, but not mass. 1. Heat Source: objects that emit energy (hot). 2. Heat Sink: objects that absorb energy. * Heat flows from source to sink! source sink

B. Specific Heat: the amount of energy needed to raise the temp B. Specific Heat: the amount of energy needed to raise the temp. of a substance 1oC. (Ref. Table pg. 1) Materials with a high specific heat take long to heat up and long to cool down. (Ex. liquid water)

C. Types of Heat Transfer: Conduction: heat transfer by direct molecule to molecule contact in solids. 2. Convection: heat transfer in fluids (gases and liquids). *warm less dense material rises and cooler dense material sink.

Convection Currents

3. Radiation: the transfer of electromagnetic energy through space 3. Radiation: the transfer of electromagnetic energy through space. Requires no transfer medium. a. Electromagnetic spectrum: shows the entire range of wavelength energy emitted by the Sun. * Page 14 ref. table

http://www.vtaide.com/png/heat2.htm

b. Earth’s Energy Budget: the balance of the amount of energy absorbed and released by Earth. *solar radiation can be reflected, scattered or absorbed.

II. Insolation: (INcoming SOLar radiATION) the Sun’s electromagnetic energy that reaches Earth. A. Angle of Insolation: (angle of incidence) the measure of the angle of the Sun’s rays striking Earth. *the greater the angle the more intense the insolation.

Area A Area B

B. Factors Affecting Energy Absorption Color: dark colors absorb and radiate heat better than light colors. 2. Texture: rough surfaces absorb energy better than smooth. 3. Material: land absorbs heat faster than water does due to its low specific heat

C. Radiative Balance: when an object gains the same amount of energy that it gives off. 1. Lag Temperature: when the warmer temperatures occur after the Sun is the highest in the sky. * Hottest days are in Aug. when the Sun is highest on June 21.

III. The Atmosphere: is made of four distinct layers and that vary in thickness and temperature. A. Troposphere: lowest layer, mostly nitrogen and oxygen. Most weather occurs in this layer. B. Stratosphere: contains ozone that absorbs UV rays.

* Ref. Table pg. 14

IV. The Greenhouse Effect: the process by which shortwave UV energy reaches Earth and long wave infrared energy is absorbed by the troposphere. Greenhouse Gases: CO2 and water vapor absorb infrared heat from Earth. B. Terrestrial Radiation: heat energy given off by Earth in the form of long wave infrared.

http://prof. danglais. pagesperso-orange http://prof.danglais.pagesperso-orange.fr/animations/environment/greenhouse/greenhouse.htm http://prof.danglais.pagesperso-orange.fr/animations/environment/natural_cycles/global_warming_version2.html