Weather vs Climate: Weather is the set of environmental conditions encountered from day to day while Climate is the set of environmental conditions averaged over many years.
Transfer of Energy
Conduction: heat transferred from one substance to another by the passing of energy from fast-moving molecules (heated item) to slow-moving molecules (cooler item). All molecules stay in the same place, only the energy moves. Ex: heating of a pan on a stove burner.
Convection: heat transfer where fast moving molecules move from one place to another. Ex: water boiling, water heats up and rises replaced by cooler water.
Radiation: heat transfer where molecules emit (give off) electromagnetic waves that carry energy and can deposit it when they interact with some form of matter. Ex: the stove element emits radiant energy, which turns into thermal energy when it interacts with a hand placed above the burner.
Solar Radiation: the sun gives radiation to the earth. The earth is dependant on this type of energy. When solar energy hits the atmosphere two things happen to it: ¹energy will be reflected into space(30%). ²energy will be absorbed by atmosphere or surface of earth (70%).
Specific Heat Capacity: the amount of heat that is required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance one degree celcius. (when u raise or lower the temperature of a substance) Substances with a higher specific heat capacity will increase in temperature less than substances with a lower specific heat capacity. (water has high, it doesn't heat as quickly) FORUMULA: Q=m c ΔT
Heat of Vapourization: the amount of energy that is required to convert one gram of a substance from the liquid state to the gaseous state. FORMULA: Q=m ΔH°vap
Heat of Fusion (melt): the amount of heat required to melt one gram of a solid into a liquid and vice versa. Alot of energy is required to melt ice because the heat of fusion of water is quite high. FORMULA: Q=m ΔH°fus
Water Vapour: water existing in the air. Warm air can hold more water vapour than cold air.
Saturated Air: when air is holding as much water vapour as possible.
Clouds: when air is saturated, the excess water will condense into liquid. Excess water will collect and condense around condensation nuclei (tiny particles that cause water droplets to form)
Humidity: the amount of water vapour in the air.
Relative Humidity: the percent of water vapour in the air, in relation to the maximum amount of water the air can hold at a certain temperature.
Dew Point: the point at which condensation will appear on something.
Wind: made by the uneven heating of air. Warm air is less dense so if it beside cool air, it will be pushed up.
Latitude/Longitude: Horizontal (East to West) lines on the globe, Vertical (North to South) lines on the globe.
A tilted, spherical, rotating, orbiting Earth: When the earth rotates around the sun, there are certain parts of the earth that are always titlted closer to the sun; equator, so they are always recieving the most energy from the sun Þ creating climates. A year is determined by the earth rotating around the sun once. WHen the earth orbits the sun, some areas are tilted closer to the sun at certain times, and titled farther from the sun at other times as it rotates. Summer is when a part of the earth is
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