Weather, Climate, and Solar Radiation

• Weather involves short-term atmospheric conditions like temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility - these can change rapidly

• Climate is the long-term average of weather conditions in a region, assessed over 30 years or more

• The troposphere contains weather phenomena; its temperature drops with altitude

• Reflection occurs when solar radiation bounces back into space by various surfaces

• Reradiation is when the Earth's surface absorbs solar energy and emits it as infrared radiation, boosting the greenhouse effect

Solar Radiation and Temperature

• Intensity of Solar Radiation is affected by the angle of incidence; steeper angles yield concentrated energy

• Duration of sunlight impacts temperature and climate; longer summer days can lead to higher temperatures

• As earth absorbs warmth, it warms the air above, which impacts local climates

• Land heats/cools faster than water causing temperature variations

Types of Precipitation

• Convectional Precipitation occurs when warm air rises, cools and condenses into rain - common in the tropics and can lead to thunderstorms

• Orographic Precipitation happens when moist air goes over mountains, cooling and condensing to form rain on the windward side - creating rain shadows on the leeward side

• Frontal Precipitation occurs when warm and cold air meet, leading to cloud formation and precipitation

Definitions of Energy Concepts

• Nuclear Fusion: Two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus - releasing energy, like the Sun

• Nuclear Fission: A heavy atomic nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, releasing energy - used in nuclear power plants

• Resources are valuable naturally occurring materials like minerals, fossil fuels, and renewable sources

Renewable Energy Sources

• Biomass Fuel: Fuel generated from organic materials like wood and crop waste, for heating and electricity

• Hydropower uses moving water to generate electricity with dams and turbines

• Solar Energy is captured from sunlight using solar panels for electricity or heating

• Geothermal Energy taps into Earth's internal heat for electricity and heating

• Wind Power converts wind energy into electricity using turbines.

Resource Management Strategies

• Conservation means efficiently using resources to minimize waste and ensure sustainability

• Substitution is replacing nonrenewable resources with renewable alternatives

• Recycling & Reuse extends the life of materials, reducing raw material extraction

Definitions of Population Concepts

• Ecumene: The Earth's inhabited areas with permanent human settlements

• Nonecumene: Uninhabited/sparsely populated regions such as deserts and polar areas

• Homeostatic Plateau: When birth and death rates are balanced, leading to a stable population size

Population Trends and Characteristics

• Less-developed countries have higher birth/mortality rates which can cause population growth and strain resources

• More-developed countries show lower birth/mortality rates resulting in slower/negative population growth and have aging populations

• Population growth impacts resource demand, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability

Global Population Distribution

• 90% of the world's population lives in the Northern Hemisphere

• Four main population clusters are:

  • East Asia: China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan - high population density

  • South Asia: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh - significant urbanization and growth

  • Europe: Western, Central, and Eastern Europe - demographic challenges

  • Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand - diverse cultures and economies