Explain: (a) how the heat balance is maintained (b) how altitude affects temperature.
(a)
The source of heat for our planet is Sun. Energy from the sun is transferred through the space and through the earth's atmosphere to the earth's surface. There are three ways heat is transferred into and through the atmosphere:- conduction, convection and advection. Thus the amount of heat received from the sun is returned to space, thereby maintaining constant temperature at the earth's surface and in the atmosphere. But trapping of long wave radiation by the increased concentration of green house gases leads to gradual heating of earth's atmosphere and surface, a process known as green house warming. The beginning of industrial revolution, burning of fossil fuels, deforestation etc contributes greatly for adding billions of tonnes of heat trapping green house gases in the atmosphere
(b)
Air temperature decreases as altitude increases. Air is a mixture of gases, and at higher altitudes, air pressure decreases, which cools any gas. Air pressure on Earth is estimated to be about 14.7 pounds per square inch at sea level
(a)
The source of heat for our planet is Sun. Energy from the sun is transferred through the space and through the earth's atmosphere to the earth's surface. There are three ways heat is transferred into and through the atmosphere:- conduction, convection and advection. Thus the amount of heat received from the sun is returned to space, thereby maintaining constant temperature at the earth's surface and in the atmosphere. But trapping of long wave radiation by the increased concentration of green house gases leads to gradual heating of earth's atmosphere and surface, a process known as green house warming. The beginning of industrial revolution, burning of fossil fuels, deforestation etc contributes greatly for adding billions of tonnes of heat trapping green house gases in the atmosphere
(b)
Air temperature decreases as altitude increases. Air is a mixture of gases, and at higher altitudes, air pressure decreases, which cools any gas. Air pressure on Earth is estimated to be about 14.7 pounds per square inch at sea level
