CLIMATE & The Water Cycle. Climate I. Earth's Energy A. Transfer of energy 1. convection- the movement of energy caused by differences in density 2. conduction-

CLIMATE&

The Water Cycle

ClimateI. Earth's EnergyA. Transfer of energy1. convection- the movement of energy caused by differences in density2. conduction- the transfer of energy when two substances touch each

other3. radiation- the flow of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves

through empty space VIDB. Insolation- INcoming SOLar radiATION1.the intensity of insolation depends on -angle of insolation -duration of insolation -surface texture and colorVID VID2

II. Angle of Insolation- the higher the angle the more intense the energy

A. Depends on latitude, season and time of day.B. Latitude- the suns rays are most intense in

the tropics1. 23 1/2 0N (Tropic of Cancer) to 23 1/2 0S (Tropic of Capricorn) -only in the tropics will the suns rays be directly

overhead.2. As your latitude increases the angle of the

suns rays decrease

C. Energy in the Atmosphere1. condensation and freezing release

energy2. melting and evaporation absorb energy3. Evaporation increases-the temp.

increases, the surface area increases and the wind is blowing.

C. At sunrise an sunset the angle is lowest and it will be highest at noon for any location.

D. The angle of the suns rays are highest on the first day of summer and lowest on the first day of winter.

E. The duration of insolation-the length of time the sun is above the horizon varies with latitude and season.

1. Throughout the year the average of the total duration of insolation is always equal.

2. During the summer the duration of insolation is greater than the winter.-on the equinox there is equal duration of day and night. VID

F. Absorption and radiation: -dark rough surfaces will absorb more

energy while lighter smooth surfaces will reflect more energy• ex. snow covered field=reflected

much energy• forest=absorb much energy

G. Reflection- the bouncing back of radiation waves1. clouds reflect half the light falling on them.H. Terrestrial Radiation1. energy in the form of visible light makes it through

the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface.2. The energy is radiated back out to the atmosphere

in a longer infrared wavelength.3. The longer infrared wavelengths are absorbed by

gasses such as carbon dioxide and water vapor and remain trapped in the atmosphere=Greenhouse Effect.

-it is called the greenhouse effect because the glass in a greenhouse traps heat in the same way.

III. Insolation Temperature Lag1. Daily the maximum angle of insolation is

at noon, but maximum temperatures don't occur until mid-afternoon.

2. Yearly the maximum angle of insolation occurs on June 21st, but the maximum temperatures don't occur until July or August.

V. Climate Classification VIDA. Based on the yearly conditions of temperature

and precipitation.B. Temperature-generally warmer towards the

equator and colder toward the poles.1. Will be influenced by local conditionsC. Humidity- classified as humid or arid(dry)1.Determined by the balance between

precipitation and the potential for evaporation.• P/Ep ratio range-see handout with map

VI. Factors that effect climate=see outline packet.

I. Water Cycle-circulation of water between the Earth and the atmosphere

• Oceans=97% , Glaciers=2% • Surface and Ground water=1%A. Processes by which water enters the atmosphere1. Transpiration- process by which plants release water

vapor2.Evaporation-water to water vapor3.Evapotranspiration=combination of both• fueled by the sun• 4. 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans=most

vapor in atmosphere is from the oceansB. Precipitation: process by which water returns to the

Earth. VID VID2

II. Ground water-water that infiltrates the surface of the Earth.

A. Distinct Zones1.Zone of saturation: all the pore spaces, cracks and

other openings in the rock are completely full of water.

• water will stop flowing down when it hits the impermeable layer.

2. Zone of Aeration: above the zone of saturation-the spaces are filled with air.

3.Water Table: the boundary between the two zones.4. As the water flows through the Earth the soil acts

like a filter removing any impurities

B. Factors affecting ground water movement and storage

1. Porosity-the amount of pore space in a material compared with its volume. VID

• * % of empty spacea. determines how much water or air a sample

of rock can hold.

b. for soil it depends on• shape-round = more porous• packing-tightly packed=less porous• variety of sizes-if all the sizes are the same=

more porous, the greater the mixture of sizes = less porous

2.Permeability: ability of soil to transmit watera. Depends of size of pores and how well they

are connected.• sand-high permeability because it has large

pores that are well connected• clay-low permeability-small pores that are not

will connected

3. Capillarity: the ability of a soil to draw water upward against gravity.

• the smaller the particles the more surface area and the greater the capillarity