Energy in the Atmosphere Chapter 16 Section 1 Pages Chapter 16 Section 1 Pages

Nearly all energy in Earth’s atmosphere comes from the sun. Travels to Earth as Electromagnetic waves. –Energy that can travel through empty space. Radio Waves, Microwaves, Infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, x-rays, gamma. Energy from the Sun.

Radiation- The direct transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves. Most of the energy from the sun arrives in the form of: –Visible Light –Infrared Light –Ultraviolet Radiation. Energy from the Sun

Infrared Radiation –Longer wavelengths than visible light. –Can be felt as heat. –Heat Lamps Electromagnetic Spectrum Longer Wavelengths Visible Light Shorter Wavelengths Ultraviolet Radiation –shorter wavelengths than visible light. –Cause of sunburns. –Causes skin cancer. Visible Light –We can see. –A mixture of all the colors in a rainbow. –Different colors are different wavelengths.

Some energy is absorbed. Water vapor, carbon dioxide some IR. Ozone absorbs UV Rays Clouds, dust and other gases also absorb energy. Some energy is reflected. Clouds act as mirrors reflecting some energy back to space. Dust particles and gasses in the atmosphere reflect light in all directions. Energy in the Atmosphere

Scattering- the reflection of light in all directions. –The sky is blue because the gas molecules in the atmosphere have scattered shorter wavelengths. (blue and violet) –Colorful sunsets are caused by the sunlight traveling through a thicker atmosphere, removing most of the blue end of the spectrum. Leaving the red and orange. Energy in the Atmosphere

Some of the absorbed energy is radiated back into the atmosphere. 19% Clouds, dust and gases reflect and scatter light 25 % Gasses and particles in the atmosphere absorb solar energy 5 % Some energy is reflected back into the atmosphere 45 % Earth’s surface absorbs solar energy. Heats land and water. 6% scattered by atmosphere.

Energy at Earth’s Surface The surface absorbs energy. Radiates the Energy as infrared radiation. Most of the infrared radiation can not travel all the way back out to space. It is absorbed by: –Carbon Dioxide, water vapor, methane and other gases (greenhouse gasses) –Act as a blanket, keeping heat in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Effect The process by which gases hold heat in the air. A natural process that keeps Earth’s atmosphere at a temperature that is comfortable for most living things. Over the past 200 years, humans have increased CO 2 by burning fossil fuels. –Contributing to Global Warming.

Quiz 5. Identify this Cloud: C C D D B B A A Cirrus Mammatus Cumulus Cumulonimbus