9/28/2009
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Energy and the Atmosphere
Radio
Microwaves
IR
Visible
UV
X-rays
Gamma
Short
LONG
Wavelength ~ different colors
Visible light – White light
Solar Energy
Scattering
 Cause of color of sky and clouds
 Reflection (Albedo)
 Determines amount of energy reflected
away from an object.
 High albedo light colors
 Low albedo dark colors

Absorption of Solar Energy

Sun heats the land…
…Land heats the air.
Absorption of Solar Energy


Land
 Solar energy absorbed at different times of day
and at different latitudes
 Direct sun angle at tropics
 Direct sun angle mid-day
 Indirect sun at poles
 Indirect sun at morning/evening
Atmosphere
 O3 in Stratosphere absorbs UV
 Short wavelength that reaches surface may
cause sunburn
 CO2 absorbs IR (also H2O and CH4)
 Mistakenly referred to as Greenhouse effect.
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9/28/2009
Transfer of Energy


Conduction
 Energy transfer from atom to atom (often in solids)
Convection
 Energy transfer in liquid or gas
 Density and Gravity
• Warm substance less dense (floats)
• Cold more dense (sinks)
 ***Measurement of Energy
 Temperature – The measurement of atomic
movement.
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