1. 17.2 Heating the Atmosphere

2. Energy Transfer as Heat
Heat is the energy transferred from one object to another due to the difference in their temperatures
Electromagnetic Waves
3 mechanisms of energy transfer as heat:
Conduction
Convection
Radiation

3. Conduction Transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity
Energy is transferred by the molecules colliding into each other
Ex) a hot metal spoon that was left in a hot pan
Metals are good conductors of heat
Air is a poor conductor of heat

4. Convection Much of the heat transfer in the atmosphere
Transfer of heat by mass movement or circulation within a substance
Takes place in fluids (ocean and air)
Takes place in solids (Earth’s mantle)

5. Radiation Travels out in all directions from it source
Unlike conduction & convection, which need material to travel through, radiant energy can travel through the vacuum of space.
Solar energy reaches Earth by radiation

7. 4 Laws Governing Radiation
1. all objects, at any temperature, emit radiant energy
2. Hotter objects radiate more total energy per unit area than colder objects do
3. The hottest radiating bodies produce the shortest wavelengths of maximum radiation
4. Objects that are good absorbers of radiation are good emitters as well.

9. What Happens to Solar Radiation?
When radiation hits an object 3 different things could happen:
Some energy is absorbed by the object
Substances such as water & air are transparent to certain wavelengths of radiation
Some radiation may bounce off the object without being absorbed or transmitted

10. Reflection, Scattering, & Absorption
Reflection: occurs when light bounces off an object. The reflected radiation has the same intensity as the incident radiation.
Scattering: produces a larger number of weaker rays that travel in different directions. Disperses light forward & backwards
Absorption: without the absorbing gases in the atmosphere, we would not be able to live on Earth due to the Greenhouse Effect

12. 17.3 Temperature Controls

13. Why Temperatures Vary
Factors other than latitude that exert a strong influence on temperature include heating of land & water, altitude, geographic position, cloud cover, & ocean currents
Land heats more quickly & to higher temps. than water. And land cools quicker than water and to a lower temp.
Geographic Position
Altitude
Cloud Cover & Albedo

14. World Distribution of Temperature
Isotherms are lines that connect points that have the same temperature.
Study global temperature patterns & the effects of the controlling factors of temperature