electromagnetic radiation, wavelength variations, ROYGBIV, everything emits e-m, influence of temperature and composition, differences in Sun and Earth emissions;
atmospheric effects, radiation, emit, absorb, transmit, deflect, reflect (albedo), scatter; blue sky, haze, red sunset
Energy balance: energy in from sun equals energy lost to space when climate is stable, greenhouse gases (CO2, H2O, NOx...), increasing from burning fossil fuels, absorb longwave Infra-red radiation, mostly from Earth, more greenhouse gases means that less heat escapes from Earth; ozone depletion, layer high in stratosphere, destroyed by chlorofluorocarbons (cfcs), absorbs incoming shortwave UV radiation, mostly from sun, less ozone means more of the sun’s heat enters the troposphere; more in and less out means temperature rises.
Temperature controls daily march of temperature, cloud cover, horizontal air movements (wind), continentality, seasons, elevation, latitude, ocean currents, humans
Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and its variations in wavelength. How is wavelength related to temperature ? What wavelength does the sun (mostly) emit? What wavelength does the Earth (mostly) emit. Why are they different?
Explain what wavelengths are absorbed by greenhouse gases and the source of these wavelengths. Explain what wavelengths are absorbed by ozone and the source of these waves. How are humans affecting the concentration of ozone and greenhouse gases? Why do these different systems both contribute to global warming? Which has the greatest impact on our climate?
Describe the ways in which the atmospheric components affect electro-magnetic radiation (transmit, absorb, scatter, reflect).
Describe the factors that can affect the temperature at any given place at any given time.
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