Insolation and the Earth’s Surface

Insolation- The portion of the Sun’s radiation that reaches the Earth INcoming SOLar RadiATION Angle of insolation (incidence)- Angle at which insolation strikes the Earth’s surface The intensity of insolation (how strong) increases as the angle of Sun approaches 90 o Where the Sun’s rays are vertical ( 90 o ), the maximum amount of solar energy is received

As angle of insolation increases the intensity of the sunlight increases

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Seasons - Maximum insolation for New York occurs on June 21. Angle of insolation varies with:

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Seasons - Maximum insolation for New York occurs on June 21. Angle of insolation varies with:

1.Water - better reflector Land - better absorber and radiator 2. Water - higher specific heat than land (needs more energy to raise it’s temperature) 3. Water - highly transparent: insolation is absorbed at a greater depth. Absorption of insolation varies due to:

Absorption of insolation (cont): 4. Convection can occur in water distributing the energy 5. Ice and snow reflect almost all insolation 6. Melting of snow and evaporation of water transform insolation into potential energy (keeps temperatures lower) 7.Energy used for Transpiration – process by which plants release H 2 O vapor into atmosphere

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EARTH’S SHAPE- The sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s surface as parallel rays. The Earth nearly spherical causing insolation to be spread out over larger area of Earth’s surface

LATITUDE- As degree latitude increases insolation decreases The lower the latitude the higher the angle 90 o N 90 o S 0o0o 23.5 o N 23.5 o S

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TIME OF DAY- maximum insolation at solar noon (sun is at it’s highest point - usually around 12:00 p.m.)

Daily Temperature Lag- The time of the highest temperature lags behind the time when the most intense insolation is occuring.

Annual Temperature lag- -the average warmest day of the summer occurs in late July, around a month after the longest day of the year.

Maximum duration in NY (15 hours) on summer solstice. Average duration (12 hours) on equinoxes. Least duration in NY (9 hours) on winter solstice. Duration of insolation – how many hours of daylight - Affected by Latitude and Season

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