Heating the Atmosphere
Energy Transfer as Heat
QQ 1
What is heat? What is temperature? Are
they the same thing or not?
Heat
Is the energy an object has because of the movement of its atoms
and molecules which are continuously moving around
 Transference of energy from one object to another due to
difference in temperature

◦ Energy always moves from a warmer object to a cooler objective through
conduction, convection or radiation
Temperature

Measure of average kinetic energy of atoms (a measure of
the average energy of the particles in a substance)
◦ Faster the atoms move, the higher the temperature
◦ Slower the atoms move, the lower the temperature
QQ 2 – If I have the following 3 beakers, and they have the
same temperature and same liquid, what do you know about
http://www.youtube.com/w
the heat?
atch?v=wTi3Hn09OBs
Heat VS. TEMP: Heat is the total energy of molecular motion in a substance while temperature is
a measure of the average energy of molecular motion in a substance. Heat energy depends on
the speed, number, and type of particles in an object. Temperature does not. For example, the
temperature of a small cup of water and a bath tub might be the same, but the tub of water has
more heat because it has more water and thus more total thermal energy.
QQ 3 – How do you think energy is transferred in the
atmosphere?
Conduction

Transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity
◦ Heat moves through an object as molecules collide
◦ Good conductor of heat - metal
 This is why we use metal pans to cook
◦ Poor conductor or heat – air
 Why conduction is important only between Earth’s surface and
the air directly in contact with the surface
Convection

Transfer of heat through matter by circulation of a
substance
◦ Occurs in liquids and gases
◦ Convection is common in Earth’s oceans and atmosphere
 Atoms are free to circulate
 warm water/air is less dense, weights less, and rises
 cooler air is more dense and heavier, sinks
◦ Most of the heat in the
troposphere is transferred by
convective flow
Solar Radiation

Transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves
◦ Does not need a substance – can travel through a vacuum
 Why the sun’s rays can reach earth through space
◦ 3 different results when radiation strikes an object
 Some energy is absorbed
 Transmitted by water and air because they are transparent
 Some bounces off objects without absorption or transmission
◦ Some incoming solar radiation is used for photosynthesis
Solar Radiation
Electromagnetic Waves
Entire range of wavelengths or frequencies of
electromagnetic radiation from gamma rays to the
longest radio waves and including visible light
 Like ripples in a pond,
Electromagnetic waves
Move out from source
In various sizes
 How radiation travels

QQ 4 – Compare conduction, convection,
and radiation
QQ 5 – What effect do you think heat
transference has for the planet?
Remember this key idea?
1. Ocean currents are caused by winds
2. Winds are caused by the uneven
heating of Earth’s surface