Chapter 3Atmospheric Energy and

Global Temperatures

Elemental Geosystems 4e

Robert W. ChristophersonCharlie Thomsen

Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures

Energy Essentials  

Energy at Earth’s Surface  

Temperature Concepts and Controls  

Earth’s Temperature Patterns 

The Urban Environment

Energy Essentials Energy Pathways and Principles 

Shortwave energy in from the Sun

Longwave energy out from Earth

Insolation

Figure 3.2

Energy Pathways

Figure 3.1

Energy PathwaysTransmission

Scattering

Refraction

Albedo and Reflection

Refraction

Figure 3.4

Refraction

Figure 3.3

Albedo and Reflection

Figure 3.5

Clouds and Albedo

Figure 3.6

Heat TransferConduction

Molecule-to-molecule transfer

ConvectionEnergy transferred by movement

AdvectionHorizontally dominant movement

RadiationEnergy traveling through air or space

Heat Transfer

Figure 3.7

Energy Balance in the Troposphere  

The Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric Warming  

Clouds and Earth’s “Greenhouse”  

Earth–Atmosphere Radiation Balance  

The Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric Warming

Atmosphere absorbs heat energy

A real greenhouse traps heat inside

Atmosphere delays transfer of heat from Earth into space

Clouds and Earth’s “Greenhouse”

Figure 3.8

Outgoing Shortwave Energy

Figure 3.9

Outgoing Longwave Energy

Figure 3.9

Earth–Atmosphere Radiation Budget

Figure 3.10

Energy Balance at Earth’s Surface

Daily Radiation Patterns  

Simplified Surface Energy Balance  

The Urban Environment

Daily Radiation Patterns

Figure 3.12

Simplified Surface Energy BalanceNET R =

+ SW (insolation)

– SW (reflection)

+ LW (infrared)

– LW (infrared)

Figure 3.13

Temperature Concepts and ControlsTemperature Scales

Measuring Temperature 

Principal Temperature Controls  

Land–Water Heating Differences

Temperature Scales   

Fahrenheit

Celsius

Kelvin 

Temperature Scales

Figure 3.15

Principal Temperature Controls  Latitude  

Affects insolation

Altitude  High altitude has greater daily rangeHigh altitude has lower annual average

Cloud Cover  High albedoModerate temperatures – cooler days, warmer nights

Effects of Latitude

Figure 3.17

Altitude

Figure 3.18

Land–Water Heating Differences Evaporation

Transparency

Specific heat

Movement

Ocean currents and sea surface temperatures

Marine vs. continental effects

Land–Water Heating Differences  

Figure 3.20

The GulfStream

Figure 3.21

Marine and Continental Climates

Figure 3.23

Marine and Continental Climates

Figure 3.25

Earth’s Temperature PatternsJanuary Temperature Map  

Thermal equator movement southward

More movement over large continents

July Temperature Map  Thermal equator movement northward

More movement over large continents

Annual Range of TemperaturesContinentality

January Temperatures

Figure 3.24

July Temperatures

Figure 3.26

Global Temperature Ranges

Figure 3.28

The Urban Environment

Figure 3.29

Urban Heat Island

Figure 3.30

Air Temperature and the Human Body

Wind chillCorrelates cold and wind speed

Heat indexCorrelates heat and humidity

Wind Chill Table

Figure 1

Heat Index Table

Figure 2

End of Chapter 3

Elemental Geosystems 4e

Robert W. ChristophersonCharlie Thomsen