Chapter 2
Solar Energy, Seasons and the
Atmosphere
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The Influence of Solar Energy, Seasons, and the Atmosphere on Earth's Climate, Lecture notes of Psychology
A comprehensive overview of the key concepts related to solar energy, the earth's seasons, and the role of the atmosphere in shaping our planet's climate. It delves into the earth's orbit around the sun, the distribution of insolation (incoming solar radiation), the electromagnetic spectrum, and the mechanisms behind the annual march of the seasons. How variations in the duration and intensity of solar radiation received drive the seasonal changes, with a focus on the tilt of the earth's axis and its axial parallelism during the planet's orbit around the sun. The information presented in this document can be valuable for students and researchers interested in understanding the fundamental processes that govern earth's climate and weather patterns, as well as the broader implications of solar energy and its interactions with the atmosphere.
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2023/2024
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Chapter 2
Solar Energy, Seasons and the
Atmosphere
Our Solar System
Figure 2.
Earth’s Energy Budget
Figure 2.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
- (^) Sun radiates mostly shortwave &
some longwave energy
- (^) Earth radiates longwave energy
Distribution of Insolation
- (^) Tropics receive more concentrated insolation due
to the Earth’s curvature. (see next slide)
- (^) Annually , tropics receive 2.5x more insolation than
poles*, though total hours of daylight per year are
the same.
- (^) However, in June, more radiation falls per square
meter in a day on the top of the atmosphere at
latitudes like Vancouver, BC (long days) than
tropical areas.
*per unit area, top of atmosphere
- Figure 2.
Revolution and Rotation
Figure 2.
Reasons for Seasons:
- (^) Primary explanation: variations in the duration and intensity of solar radiation received drive the annual march of the seasons. What causes these variations?
- (^) Tilt of Earth’s axis
- (^) Axis is tilted 23.5° from plane of ecliptic
- (^) Axial parallelism
- (^) Axis maintains alignment during orbit around the Sun.
- (^) North pole points toward the North Star (Polaris)
- (^) Thus, the subsolar point (declination) will vary in location between the Tropic lines. Animation: https://mediaplayer.pearsoncmg.com/assets/KYNa1ou7I m5RkQpxOkD5i6lG7iVAR6e Or google pearson earth sun relations animation
Axial Tilt and Parallelism
Figure 2.
Annual March of the Seasons (know perfectly!!)
- (^) Winter solstice ~December 21
- (^) Subsolar point Tropic of Capricorn
- (^) Spring equinox ~March 21
- (^) Subsolar point Equator
- (^) Summer solstice ~June 21
- (^) Subsolar point Tropic of Cancer
- (^) Fall equinox ~September 22
- (^) Subsolar point Equator Easiest to learn this info on a globe diagram!
Seasonal Observations
Figure 2.