Rotation
- Due to earth’s rotation on its axis
- Only one side that is facing the sun will receive solar radiation
- Experiences day time and higher temps
- Due to earth’s tilt and revolution around the sun
- Hemispheres receive diff amts of solar radiation throughout the year
- Gives rise to seasons esp. temp latitudes
Latitude
- Higher latitude, light spread out over more surface area, lower temps
- Light passes through more atmosphere, reducing temp through scattering of light
- converse is true for low latitudes near the equator
Altitude
- Lower density of air at higher altitudes due to lower gravitational pull
- With less air, dust and water vapor, less longwave radiation is trapped and more heat escapes
- Temps drop
Maritime Effect
- Onshore winds blow from the sea
- Tend to lower summer temp and raise winter temp
- Summers are cooler and winters are warmer
- Annual range of temp is lower
Continental Climate
- Hotter summers and colder winters
- Annual temp range is greater
- Climate is more extreme
- Due to its remote area from the oceans
Cloud
- During day:
- Reduce heating of the earth
- Reflects some of the sun’s energy back to space
- Absorb heat radiated from earth’s surface
- During the night:
- Reduces loss of heat to space
- Absorb heat radiated from earth’s surface, keeping surface warm
Types of Surface
- Albedo: Measure how much light that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed
- Determines how much sunlight is absorbed and warms the surface
- High albedo less heat yay