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Insolation

Insolation refers to radiation from the sun. Several factors affect the intensity of insolation and surface temperature on Earth, including the angle of sunlight, latitude, and the tilt of the Earth. The angle of insolation determines intensity, with higher angles resulting in greater intensity and higher temperatures. Latitude dictates the angle and duration of sunlight, with equatorial regions experiencing the most intense and longest sunlight. The 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth's axis causes seasons and differences in intensity between hemispheres.

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joshua.brussell
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3K views

Insolation

Insolation refers to radiation from the sun. Several factors affect the intensity of insolation and surface temperature on Earth, including the angle of sunlight, latitude, and the tilt of the Earth. The angle of insolation determines intensity, with higher angles resulting in greater intensity and higher temperatures. Latitude dictates the angle and duration of sunlight, with equatorial regions experiencing the most intense and longest sunlight. The 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth's axis causes seasons and differences in intensity between hemispheres.

Uploaded by

joshua.brussell
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Insolation

Insolation is……
• IN = incoming
• SOL = solar
• ATION = radiation
• Def: radiation from the sun
We receive only one 2 billionth
(1/2,000,000,000) of all the suns
energy!
• All areas of the Earth
get the same amount
of sunlight!

• Why are some area’s


cold and others hot?
Some area’s have greater intensity
then others
• Intensity of Insolation is correlated to the
average surface temperature.
– As intensity goes up, so does temp.
#1 Factor affecting Insolation
• Angle of Insolation or the angle of the sun
ray’s hitting the earth.
• The greater the angle, the greater the
temperature.
• 00 is cold – 900 is hot
How does angle affect intensity?
What affects angle?
• Time of day
– When is the sun highest in the sky?
– 12 pm, noon
– As the sun gets higher in the sky, what
happens to the shadow length?
– Shadow Video
• Higher angle = small shadow = High
temps

• What determines the angle of insolation


is…
Latitude
• Dictates the angle and duration of insolation (# of
daylight hours)
Date Latitude Angle of Duration of
noon sun insolation
Dec 21 60oN 6o 5 hrs

Dec 21 40oN 26o 9 hrs

Dec 21 0oN 66o 12 hrs


Intensity due to tilt of the Earth
• The earth is tilted 23 1/2o to the sun which
causes changes in intesity
– Higher latitude = Less intense
– Low latitude = more intense
– Equator is most intense on average.
Why do we experience seasons?
• Seasons are the result of earths tilt and
revolution.

• Tilt = 23.5 degrees, increased tilt = hotter


summers and colder winters.
Seasons are opposite in Southern
Hempisphere

• What if tilt were more/less?

• There would be greater differences in


temperatures for the latitudes.
When does hottest/coldest times of
day/year occur? Why?
Warmest Times
• Temp. rises = incoming energy>outgoing
energy

• Temp. drops = incoming<outgoing


• Radioactive Balance = Incoming energy is
the same as Outgoing energy

• Hottest times occur after maximum


insolation because incoming=outgoing
energy
Greenhouse Effect
• Warming trend due to absorption of
terrestrial (land) radiation (infrared) by
greenhouse gases (CO2 + H2O vapor)
• Without greenhouse gases, the average temp of
59oF, would drop to 0o F

• CH4 (Methane), water vapor, CO2, as well as


Other gases

• If all ice were to melt on Earth seal level would


reach 75m.!
• !
• Seal level is rising 2.5 mm/yr
Sky Dome Model

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