The Sun Accounts For The Earth s Energy - 1054 Words

The Sun accounts for the entirety of Earth’s energy. While the sun is the driving force of all living organisms on Earth, this energy must be balanced in order for the Earth to maintain a constant global temperature. The Earth distributes this energy through oceanic and atmospheric circulation. This distribution of energy determines the location of biomes throughout the world. These two circulation processes also affect air pressure gradients in tropical parts of the world. They are also responsible for weather phenomenon’s like El Nià ±o. As shortwave radiation from the sun reaches the Earth, about eighteen percent of this radiation is absorbed into the atmosphere. The remaining energy is reflected back or absorbed by the Earth. This reflection is known as albedo. Objects with a higher reflectivity have a higher albedo and vice versa. Similar to the sun, the Earth and its atmosphere also emit radiation. Because the Earth is much cooler than the sun, this radiation is in the form of longwave radiation (Nature of Radiation Lecture). Although, not all of this radiation exits the Earth’s atmosphere, some of this radiation is absorbed back into the Earth. This is known as the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gasses absorb radiation. This radiation is emitted by greenhouse gasses and absorbed into the Earth, which in turn, heats up the surface of the Earth. By increasing the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, the temperature will continue to rise. In the polar regions ofShow MoreRelatedThe And Their Impact O n Earth s Climate1435 Words   |  6 PagesSunspots and Their Impact on Earth s Climate The sun is an incredibly dynamic ball of mass and energy at the center of our solar system. The source of the sun s energy is nuclear fusion; where mass is converted into energy when protons (positively charged hydrogen atoms) smash together at incredible speeds at the center of the sun to form helium. Nuclear forces aren t the only thing acting on the sun, electromagnetic forces also play a vital role in the sun s dynamic behavior. Due to the unimaginablyRead MoreThe Energy Of Solar Energy1462 Words   |  6 PagesInstitute for Energy Research and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, solar energy makes up only 0.5% of total energy consumption in the United States, and over 65% of consumed energy is natural gas and petroleum. (2016) These statistics show that nearly two-thirds of the energy the United States uses is not only non-renewable but the processess of harnessing it also causes pollution. Solar Energy is energy that is transferred through solar radiation in the form of electromagnetic energy. In theRead More The Sun and Its Features Essay967 Words   |  4 PagesThe Sun and Its Features Changes in the magnetic field of the sun affect us here on earth in a number of interesting ways. This magnetic field is caused by the flow of electrically charged ions and electrons on the sun, and if it didnt exist, the sun would be a much more boring star. The 11-year cycle of the suns magnetic field accounts for many of the cool features of the sun: sunspots, solar flares, and aurora borealis. At the beginning of the cycle, the magnetic field is weak and there areRead MoreSolar Energy Is Becoming More Of A Reasonable Price1491 Words   |  6 PagesWe used the solar energy for quite a few things; is to dry our clothes and give us food. Just a minor portion of the sun’s solar energy that hits the Earth is sufficient to meet all our needs many circumstances over. Every second, enough energy reaches earth that can provide us with energy for a year, only if we know how to utilize it. According to (Solar Energy Industries Association) â€Å"Solar Energy is becoming more of a reasonable price. It has become predominant in the United States than any timeRead MoreThe Human Populations Role Of Climate Change1040 Words   |  5 Pagesbeginning of the modern climate era and of human civilization. These early patterns of extended climate change were most likely the result of â€Å"very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.† (noaa.org). While these orbital variances can account for a portion of our changing climate the majority of the blame for our climates current state falls on our shoulders. According to the latest ICCP report, the current warming trend is of particular significanceRead MoreHigh Capacity Unit And Network1048 Words   |  5 Pagesunit. Small-capacity units and network are more difficult, but it can be other power generation combined. In recent years, the development of wind and solar technologies, can also be considered in conjunction with the tidal power, geothermal ener gy, thermal energy, hydropower, to solve the small-capacity unit grid difficult problem. d Intelligent. Intelligent wind power systems for control and detection technology of wind turbines, modeling and simulation of wind power prediction and management technologyRead MoreGlobal Warming Is A Hoax1506 Words   |  7 PagesGlobal Warming is a Hoax Since 1975, the surface of the earth s average temperature has risen by 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit; global warming caused by greenhouse effect has become the focus topic of the world. It has long been recognized academically that due to the burning of coal, oil, natural gas and so on the carbon dioxide is the main culprit of global warming. I watched a documentary, which called â€Å"The Great Global Warming Swindle.† In the documentary, the scientists pointed out that there isRead MoreES 1010 Earth Science857 Words   |  4 Pagesone another throughout the life of a star and how do they influence the various stages in the life cycle of a star Stellar evolution stars exist because of gravity. The two opposing forces in a star are gravity (contracts) and thermal nuclear energy (expands). Stage 1 Birth is where gravity contracts the cloud and the temperature rises, becoming a protostar. Protostars are a hypothetical cloud of dust and atoms in space which are believed to develop into a star. Astronomers are fairly certainRead MoreWeather Conditions And Atmospheric Characteristics Within The Houston Area1520 Words   |  7 Pagesrain overflow, one must think how human error has contributed in nature s response. Furthermore, with focus on the south regional state of Texas, this research paper will discuss a current analysis in weather conditions and atmospheric characteristics within the  Houston  area. Texas is known for its wide rage in weather conditions and characteristics. The Gulf of Mexico is the primary geographical feature affecting the area s climate and temperature. Being the second largest state of the country,Read MoreRenewable Is Sustainable For Renewable Energy1105 Words   |  5 PagesRenewable is Sustainable Soon, planet Earth will run out of the resource that once was thought to be reliable. Earth is in great danger of self destructing if there is no backup plan. This is where renewable resources come in. Renewable resources are abundant and do not damage the environment, so they are a sustainable method to produce energy. The options for renewable energy are solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal. Why should Earth abandon the systems that they have in place at the