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Summary

Atmosphere Contents

3. Energy Variation

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Conclusion

A number of factors influence the amount of solar radiation received by the Earth: the distance from the sun; the shape of the Earth's orbit; the distance from the equator; the Earth's obliquity; and precession. Precession also alters the distribution of radiation across the Earth's surface. However, notwithstanding these variations, the average temperature of the Earth is fairly constant with surpluses of radiation at the equator balanced by deficits at the poles. Redistribution of this energy is continually occurring via transportation of heat through the general circulation of the atmosphere and oceans.

Question and answers

1.On what periodicity does orbital forcing occur?

question 1 answers

2.How does eccentricity affect the radiation reaching the surface?

question 2 answers

3.On what periodicity do changes in axial tilt occur?

question 3 answers

4.How does obliquity affect the radiation reaching the surface?

question 4 answers

5.What are the combined effects of eccentricity and obliquity?

question 5 answers

6.On what periodicity does precession (or axial "wobble") occur?

question 6 answers

7.How does precession affect the radiation reaching the surface?

question 7 answers

8.How is energy redistributed between surplus (equatorial) and deficit (polar, high altitude) regions?

question 8 answers

9.How much more solar energy is received at the equator relative to the poles?

question 9 answers

10.i) How are imbalances overcome in the amount of incoming energy from the sun and the amount outgoing from the Earth, and ii) At what latitudes is there a balance?

question 10 answers