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Questions and Answers
What is the difference between weather and climate?
What is the difference between weather and climate?
What is atmospheric temperature?
What is atmospheric temperature?
Atmospheric temperature is the measure of heat in the atmosphere, indicating how hot or cold a place is.
What is insolation?
What is insolation?
What is a heat budget?
What is a heat budget?
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Which factor affects the distribution of temperature based on distance from the Equator?
Which factor affects the distribution of temperature based on distance from the Equator?
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Convection is the passing of heat by _____ currents.
Convection is the passing of heat by _____ currents.
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Match the following radiation percentages with their corresponding destinations:
Match the following radiation percentages with their corresponding destinations:
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As latitude increases, does the temperature decrease?
As latitude increases, does the temperature decrease?
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Study Notes
Weather and Climate
- Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere, which can change frequently and vary depending on location.
- Climate is the average weather condition of a place over a minimum period of 35 years.
Elements of Weather and Climate
- Atmospheric Temperature: measures the heat of the atmosphere, varying from place to place.
- Atmospheric Pressure: the force exerted by a column of air at any point on the Earth's surface.
- Winds: the horizontal movement of air from areas of high atmospheric pressure to low atmospheric pressure.
- Rain: the falling of moisture in the form of water on the Earth's surface.
Temperature
- Solar Radiation: the amount of heat given out by the Sun in the form of rays, controlling weather and climate.
- Insolation: the incoming solar radiation received on the Earth's surface, deciding the climate.
- Terrestrial Radiation: the heat energy re-radiated by the Earth to heat up the atmosphere, after absorbing insolation.
Heat Budget and Global Heat Balance
- Heat budget is a balance between incoming heat (insolation) and outgoing heat (terrestrial radiation) to maintain Earth's temperature.
- If the incoming and outgoing heat are not balanced, Earth's temperature would fluctuate.
Heat Distribution
- 40% of the sun's rays are reflected back to space by the atmosphere.
- 15% of the sun's rays are absorbed by the upper layer of the atmosphere.
- 45% of the sun's rays reach the Earth's surface.
Terrestrial Heat Radiation
- Terrestrial heat radiation is the heat waves sent out by the Earth's surface.
Heat Transfer Mechanisms
- Conduction is the passing of heat by contact.
- Convection is the passing of heat by air currents.
Factors Affecting Temperature Distribution
Latitude
- Latitude is the distance in degrees from the Equator.
- The angle of the Sun's rays varies with latitude, affecting the temperature.
- Near the Equator:
- Vertical rays heat the surface more intensely due to concentrated energy and shorter distance through the atmosphere.
- Example: Mumbai is warmer than New York due to its closer proximity to the Equator.
- Near the Poles:
- Slant rays have to travel a greater distance through the atmosphere, covering a larger area, resulting in less intense heat.
- The connection between latitude and temperature: As latitude increases, temperature decreases.
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Description
Learn about the differences between weather and climate, and explore the elements that make up these two concepts. Understand atmospheric temperature, humidity, and other factors that affect weather and climate.
