Podcast
Questions and Answers
What occurs in the northern hemisphere during the June solstice?
What occurs in the northern hemisphere during the June solstice?
- First day of winter
- First day of spring
- First day of summer (correct)
- First day of fall
What happens in the area above the Arctic Circle during the northern summer solstice?
What happens in the area above the Arctic Circle during the northern summer solstice?
- Has longer twilight hours
- Receives 24 hours of daylight (correct)
- Experiences 24 hours of darkness
- Has equal day and night
What is the distance between Earth and the sun during the northern winter?
What is the distance between Earth and the sun during the northern winter?
- 92.8 million miles
- 94.5 million miles
- 91.4 million miles (correct)
- 90.2 million miles
What is the southern hemisphere experiencing during the northern winter solstice?
What is the southern hemisphere experiencing during the northern winter solstice?
When is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere?
When is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere?
What is solar energy?
What is solar energy?
What does solar energy make possible for life on Earth?
What does solar energy make possible for life on Earth?
How does the sun heat the Earth?
How does the sun heat the Earth?
What happens to the solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface?
What happens to the solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface?
What is the role of the atmosphere in relation to solar energy reaching the Earth?
What is the role of the atmosphere in relation to solar energy reaching the Earth?
What causes the change of seasons on Earth?
What causes the change of seasons on Earth?
What leads to the formation of clouds and rainfall on Earth?
What leads to the formation of clouds and rainfall on Earth?
What can excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lead to?
What can excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lead to?
What causes the average temperature on Earth to be the same overall despite different amounts of solar energy received?
What causes the average temperature on Earth to be the same overall despite different amounts of solar energy received?
What contributes to the uneven distribution of solar energy on Earth?
What contributes to the uneven distribution of solar energy on Earth?
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Study Notes
The Sun's Impact on Weather and Climate
- The sun affects both weather and climate on Earth, with climate being the average weather over a region and weather including temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity, and other factors.
- Solar energy causes evaporation of surface water, leading to the formation of clouds and rainfall.
- The Earth's shape and tilt cause solar energy to be unevenly distributed, with some parts receiving more direct sunlight than others.
- The greenhouse effect, caused by gases in the atmosphere, allows sunlight to pass through and traps its warmth inside, warming the Earth enough for life to flourish.
- Excessive greenhouse gases can lead to an enhanced greenhouse effect, resulting in global warming and climate change.
- Scientists predict that global temperatures may increase by as much as 4 degrees Celsius over the next century due to the effects of an enhanced greenhouse effect.
- Burning fossil fuels and raising livestock increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, contributing to the enhanced greenhouse effect.
- Converting to more renewable resources and practicing sustainable agriculture can reduce greenhouse gas levels and maintain a balanced greenhouse effect.
- Earth's tilt and its orbital path around the sun cause the change of seasons experienced on Earth.
- The combination of the Earth's tilt and orbital path causes the seasons to be opposite in the northern and southern hemispheres.
- Earth's tilt also affects day length, with longer days during the summer leading to warmer temperatures in that region or hemisphere.
- The overall average temperature on Earth is 61 degrees F or 16 degrees C, with different parts of the planet receiving different amounts of solar energy but the total amount of sunlight received being the same overall.
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