Class notes
Solar Energy, Seasons, and the Atmosphere
- Course
- Institution
Description of solar energy, seasons, the atmosphere, and in depth explanations behind these processes.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Solar Unit 1Solar Energy, Seasons, and the Atmosphere
Earth System Science
Introduction ☀
The solar system condensed from a nebula, which is a collapsing cloud of dust. In the solar
system, Earth (the blue planet) revolves around the Sun in an elliptical pattern, which is also
the primary source of energy for the planet.
Earth’s Orbit ☀
Perihelion: When the Earth is closest to the sun (January 3rd)
Aphelion: When the Earth is furthest from the sun (July 4t)
● The average distance between the Earth and the Sun is 150,000,000 km (93,000,000
mi).
● It takes light around eight minutes and twenty seconds to reach the Earth from the Sun.
● The plane of Earth’s orbit is titled the plane of the ecliptic.
Solar Activity ☀
Solar Wind
● Solar wind is clouds of electrically charged particles
Sun Spots
● Sunspots are caused by magnetic storms.
● They have a cycle of eleven years.
● Impacts technology.
○ Can disrupt GPS signals.
The Sun radiates shortwave energy whilst the Earth
radiates longwave energy, in regards to the electromagnetic
spectrum. Shorter wavelengths have the tendency to carry more energy.
Distribution of Insolation ☀
● The tropics receive more concentrated insolation because of the Earth’s shape.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller katdillman. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.69. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
79223 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now