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Ch 08 - Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature11th Fundamentals of Physical Geography
Heat vs. Temperature
Are 'Heat' and 'Temperature' the same thing in Geography?
Are 'Heat' and 'Temperature' the same thing in Geography?
DISTINCTION
Heat vs. Temperature
- Heat: Represents the energy (molecular movement) present in a substance. It is the cause.
- Temperature: Represents the intensity or degree of hotness. It is the effect or measurement.
- Geography Context: Insolation is the heat energy interacting with the surface; the result measured by a thermometer is temperature.
Prism Memory Hook
Heat is the Energy, Temperature is the Measurement.
Insolation
What exactly is 'Insolation' and how does it reach the Earth?
What exactly is 'Insolation' and how does it reach the Earth?
DEFINITION
Insolation
- Definition: Insolation stands for Incoming Solar Radiation.
- Mechanism: The earth receives almost all of its energy from the sun.
- Wave Form: It reaches the earth's surface mainly in short wavelengths.
- Quantity: On average, the earth receives 1.94 calories per sq. cm per minute at the top of its atmosphere.
Prism Memory Hook
In-Sol-A-tion means Incoming Solar Radiation.
The Solar Constant
How much energy actually reaches the outer edge of our atmosphere, and what is this metric called?
How much energy actually reaches the outer edge of our atmosphere, and what is this metric called?
FACT
The Solar Constant
- Definition: The rate at which solar energy is received on a surface at the top of the atmosphere perpendicular to the sun's rays.
- Value: It is constant at approximately 1.94 calories per sq. cm per minute (or 1361 W/m²).
- Significance: This is the baseline energy input before the atmosphere begins to absorb, scatter, or reflect it.
Prism Memory Hook
One Point Nine Four is the Sun's core score.
Also in this chapter
36 more cards to study in Prism
- 4Planck's Law of Radiation
- 5Solar vs. Terrestrial Radiation
- 6Passage of Solar Radiation
- 7Selective Absorption by Atmospheric Gases
- 8Scattering: The Blue Sky and Red Sunset
- 9Variability of Insolation
- 10Vertical vs. Oblique Rays
- 11Aphelion vs. Perihelion
- 12Insolation Quantity Variation (Tropics vs Poles)
- 13Earth's Albedo
- 14The Heat Budget (Incoming/Absorption)
- 15The Heat Budget (Outgoing/Emission)
- 16The Natural Greenhouse Effect
- 17The Role of Atmosphere in Surface Temperature
- 18Latitudinal Heat Balance
- 19Heating the Atmosphere: Conduction
- 20Heating the Atmosphere: Convection
- 21Heating the Atmosphere: Advection
- 22Latent Heat in the Atmosphere
- 23Factors Controlling Temperature
- 24Specific Heat (Land vs. Water)
- 25Differential Heating of Land and Water
- 26The Continentality Effect
- 27Cloud Cover & Diurnal Range
- 28Global Temperature Maxima
- 29The Thermal Equator
- 30Annual Range of Temperature
- 31Defining Isotherms
- 32Reading Isotherm Spacing
- 33Isotherms: North vs. South Hemispheres
- 34Isotherm Behavior in January
- 35Isotherm Behavior in July
- 36The Normal Lapse Rate
- 37Inversion of Temperature
- 38Conditions for Temperature Inversion
- 39Valley Inversions and Air Drainage
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11th Fundamentals of Physical Geography
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