Earth's Atmosphere
coldest layer of the atmosphere
Mesosphere
The higher the frequency of an electromagnetic wave, the ____________ the energy.
greater
Energy due to motion
Kinetic energy
The Sun's energy (radiation)hits the surface of Earth LEAST directly where?
At the poles.
Sand has a ____________ specific heat than water.
lower
hottest layer because energy from the Sun hits here
Thermosphere
All elctromagnetic waves travel through the ___________ of space at the __________________________________.
Vacuum, Speed of Light
This is the ability to reflect light.
albedo
What area of Earth receives the most solar radiation? Why?
The equator receives the most solar radiation because the Sun hits the equator more directly at a 90º angle; thus, the light is more intense and covers a smaller area.
Water has a _______________ specific heat than air.
higher
This holds most of Earth's mass
Troposphere
This is the energy that is found naturally in sunlight and causes cancer and sunburn.
Ultraviolet Radiation
This is the actual percentage of radiation that reaches Earth's surface.
50%
What happens to make the Earth warmer at the equator and colder at the poles?
The Earth's curvature causes the poles to be colder due to the indirect light (diffused light). Radiation hits at a lower angle with less intensity. Radiation hits the equator directly with more intensity, but in a smaller area called the tropics.
Air has a ____________ specific heat than land.
lower
This layer contains the ozone layer that absorbs ultraviolet rays from the Sun
Stratosphere
These waves have the highest frequency and are produced by radioactive elements.
Gamma rays
What is specific heat?
The amount of heat required to raise 1kg of matter 1º C.
What three things can happen to the radiation that Earth receives from the Sun?
1. Some is reflected back into space.
2. Some is absorbed by the atmosphere
3. Some is absorbed by land and water on Earth's surface.
A snow covered mountain has a ___________ albedo than a dark colored corn field; thus, it will reflect __________ solar energy than the field.
higher, more
Meteors burn up in this layer creating shooting stars
Mesosphere
These waves have the longest wavelength in the EM spectrum.
Radio waves
Define conduction.
the transfer of thermal energy (particles) between materials by the collisions of particles
Sand absorbs about ______% of solar radiation and asphalt (the parking lot) absorbs about _______% of solar radiation. Why?
40%, 70% because darker colors absorb more heat than lighter colors and have a lower albedo.
Explain what happened in the lab: To Absorb or Not to Absorb using the terms albedo and specific heat.
Both the black and white papers increased in temperature, but the black paper absorbed more heat at a faster rate than the white paper. Darker colors have a low albedo and a low specific heat. Lighter colors have a higher albedo and a higher specific heat.