lnsolation — Flashcards

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Insolation is incoming solar radiation received by the Earth. It is the energy that reaches the Earth from the Sun and helps produce heat, light, weather, and climate.

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The Sun is the ultimate source of light and energy for the various phenomena that take place on the Earth's surface and in its atmosphere. Without solar energy, life and climate processes on Earth wou…

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The Sun is a star of average size. Its surface temperature is about 6000°C, and it emits energy as electromagnetic radiation.

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Solar energy travels in the form of rays at a speed of about 30,000 km/sec. It takes nearly 8 minutes to reach the Earth.

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Insolation is minimum at the poles because the Sun's rays are slanting there and pass through a greater extent of the atmosphere. More heat is lost on the way. Places near the equator are warmer becau…

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Infrared rays are longer waves that are largely absorbed in the atmosphere. Ultraviolet rays are shorter waves that reach the Earth's surface as solar radiation.

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Terrestrial radiation is long wave electromagnetic radiation originating from Earth and its atmosphere. It is the radiation emitted by naturally radioactive materials on Earth including uranium, thori…

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The atmosphere is heated by three main processes: convection, conduction, and radiation. Convection transfers heat by movement of air, conduction transfers heat by direct contact, and radiation causes…