Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere

Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere

Air, water, and land absorb solar radiation at different rates.

​Energy from the Sun drives convection within the atmosphere

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​Energy from the Sun

Radiation

The Sun sends out enormous amount of energy. Solar energy is produced through nuclear reactions in the Suns core. It takes only 8 minutes, traveling at a speed of 300,000 km/s to reach Earth.

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How does the Sun's energy get to Earth?

The transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves.

Ninety-nine percent of the radiant energy from the Sun consists of visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared radiation.​

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Different types of surfaces absorb and reflect different amounts of heat.

Radiation

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The wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light and infrared radiation (IR) are just beyond the range of visibility to human eyes.

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Excess exposure to UV light can burn human skin and cause skin cancer.​

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Near Visible Wavelengths

The majority of sunlight. Visible light is light that you can see. At Earths surface it is converted to thermal energy, called heat.​

Visible Light

Radiation

The atmosphere is like a window to visible light

Multiple Choice

What is radiation?

• convection

• the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves

• heat

• the reflection of energy

Multiple Choice

What is one quality of visible light?

• the atmosphere

• forming clouds

• short wavelengths

• light you can see

Multiple Choice

What energy conversion takes place when sunlight reaches

Earths surface?

• Visible light is converted into thermal energy when sunlight reaches Earths surface

• when the movement of particles increases

Scientists can see infrared radiation as thermal energy or warmth using technology that detects thermal energy.

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Areas near the Equator radiate more thermal energy then the poles.

Infrared Radiation

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Multiple Choice

What are two forms of near-visible radiation from the Sun?

• Infrared radiation and visible light

• Ultraviolet and X-rays

• Ultraviolet and infrared radiation

• Gamma rays and visible light

Open Ended

Have you ever been sunburned? How do you think this happened?

Not all energy coming from the Sun reaches Earths surface. ​

Some is absorbed by particles and gases, some is reflected back into space.​

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​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Energy on Earth

Multiple Choice

What type of radiation does the atmosphere absorb?

• Ultraviolet light and infrared radiation

• Ultraviolet light and Radio waves

• Visible light and Infrared radiation

Multiple Choice

What type of radiation passes easily through Earths atmosphere?

• Infrared Radiation

• Visible light

• Ultraviolet light

Open Ended

Atmospheric gases don't absorb visible light. What else in the atmosphere might absorb visible light?

Gases and particles in the atmosphere absorb about 20 percent of incoming solar radiation. Oxygen, ozone, and water vapor all absorb incoming ultraviolet light.

Water and carbon dioxide in the troposphere absorb some infrared radiation from the Sun.​

Earth's atmosphere does not absorb visible light. ​

Absorption

Bright surfaces, especially clouds, reflect incoming radiation. Clouds and other small particles in the air reflect about 25% of the Suns radiation. Some radiation travels to Earth's surface and is then reflected by land and sea surfaces. Snow covered, icy, or rocky surfaces are especially reflective, about 5%.

About 30% is reflected into space.

Earth's surface only receives and absorbs about 50% of incoming solar radiation.

Reflection

Radiation Balance

The Sun's radiation heats Earth. However, there is a balance between the amount of incoming radiation from Sun and the amount of outgoing radiation from Earth.

The radiation absorbed by Earth is then re-radiated, or bounced back, into the atmosphere. Most of the energy radiated from Earth is infrared radiation. ​

The amount of energy absorbed by Earth equals the amount of energy Earth radiates into the atmosphere.

6th | Science

Solar radiation that reaches Earth is absorbed by land, trees, soil, and oceans.​

Fill in the Blank

Earth emits absorbed radiation back toward the Sun in the form of

The Greenhouse Effect

Earth's atmosphere acts like a blanket that protects our planet from extreme temperatures and radiation. Some gases called, greenhouse gases, ​that make up the atmosphere influence how much radiation escapes and is absorbed by the atmosphere.

Earth's atmosphere allows sunlight to pass through, but prevents some of Earth's infrared energy from escaping, causing an additional buildup of thermal energy at Earth's surface.

The gases that trap infrared radiation the best are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane.​

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6th| Science

Greenhouse gases act like the glass of a greenhouse.​

​Greenhouse

Open Ended

How does Earth's atmosphere insulate the planet?

Open Ended

How can greenhouse gases cause a heat surplus?

Multiple Choice

How does Earth's atmosphere insulate the planet?

• Like a bird

• Like a blanket

• Like a light

• Like a window

Thermal Energy Transfer

There are three types of energy transfer:

​radiation, conduction, and convection.​

All three occur in the atmosphere.​

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6th| Science

The process of conduction, radiation, and convection can occur anywhere, not just the atmosphere.

Thermal energy always moves from an object with a higher temperature to an object with lower temperature.

Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy by collisions between particles of matter.​ Particles must be close enough to transfer energy by conduction.

When air molecules above Earth's surface come in contact with Earth's surface, they are warmed through conduction.

​Conduction

Convection is the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of particles within matter.

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As molecules of air close to Earth's surface are heated by conduction, they spread apart, and air becomes less dense.

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Less air rises transferring thermal energy to higher altitudes.​

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Convection currents are the main method of energy transfer in the atmosphere.​

​Convection

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​Circulating Air

Air in the atmosphere is always moving. These movements affect weather and distribute thermal energy around Earth.

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Warm air, being less dense, rises. Cool air, being denser, sinks. Cool sinking air replaces warm rising air creating convection currents.​

6th| Science

Heat is the transfer of thermal energy from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature.

Multiple Choice

What is necessary for conduction to occur?

• Greenhouse gases must be present.

• Air must be moving around.

• Objects must be touching each other.

Multiple Choice

How is most energy transferred in the atmosphere?

• By convection

• By conduction

• By radiation

• By breathing

Open Ended

How are circular patterns within the atmosphere created?

As warm air expands it rises higher into the atmosphere and is replaced by cooler air from above. ​

This circular motion of air can vary depending on the temperature differences near Earth's surface and the atmosphere above.​​

Stability describes whether circulating air amotions will be strong or weak.​​

When air is unstable, circulating motions are strong. During stable conditions, circulating motions are weak.​

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​Stability

Open Ended

What type of weather do you like best, weather caused by stable air or weather caused by unstable air

Poll

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