Solar Energy and a Spherical Solar Energy and a Spherical EarthEarth

Chapter 14.1Chapter 14.1► Characteristics of Earth:Characteristics of Earth:

1.1. SphericalSpherical

2.2. RotatingRotating

3.3. OrbitingOrbiting

► These characteristics affect the These characteristics affect the amount of solar radiation absorbed amount of solar radiation absorbed by different regions.by different regions.

Basic Basic IdeasIdeas►The Earth orbits the The Earth orbits the

Sun in one yearSun in one year►The Earth spins The Earth spins

around once each around once each dayday

►The Moon orbits the The Moon orbits the Earth about once a Earth about once a monthmonth

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2503/es2503page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

►http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0403/es0403page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

►http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0408/es0408page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

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►http://www.bbc.co.uk/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12849630news/world-12849630

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Latitude vs. LongitudeLatitude vs. Longitude

► Longitude lines:Longitude lines:1.1. Run North to SouthRun North to South2.2. Are all the same Are all the same

lengthlength3.3. Are longer than Are longer than

any line of latitudeany line of latitude4.4. Measures distance Measures distance

East or West from East or West from the PRIME the PRIME MERIDIAN (0MERIDIAN (00 0 --18018000))

Latitude vs. LongitudeLatitude vs. Longitude

► Latitude lines:Latitude lines:

1.1. Run from East to WestRun from East to West

2.2. Are parallel to each otherAre parallel to each other

3.3. Measure distances North Measure distances North and South of the Equator and South of the Equator (0(00 - 0 - 909000))

4.4. The Tropics of Cancer The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (23.5°) and Capricorn (23.5°) and the Arctic and and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles are Antarctic Circles are other notable lines of other notable lines of latitudelatitude

How did the How did the lines of latitude lines of latitude

get special get special names?names?

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How does the spherical shape of How does the spherical shape of Earth influence the climate of Earth influence the climate of

different regions?different regions?► A beam of sunlight that A beam of sunlight that

strikes the equator is strikes the equator is perpendicular to Earth’s perpendicular to Earth’s surfacesurface

► Earth’s surface absorbs the Earth’s surface absorbs the maximum amount of energy maximum amount of energy from the Sun at the equatorfrom the Sun at the equator

► Energy reaching a region at Energy reaching a region at a higher or lower latitude is a higher or lower latitude is spread over a larger areaspread over a larger area

► Therefore the Earth’s Therefore the Earth’s surface in this region surface in this region absorbs less energy than at absorbs less energy than at the equatorthe equator

Why doesn’t the temperature Why doesn’t the temperature throughout the world stay the same throughout the world stay the same

all year?all year?► OrbitOrbitEarth is rotating on its Earth is rotating on its

axis (365 times for axis (365 times for every trip) while it every trip) while it rotates around the rotates around the sunsun

► OrientationOrientationEarth’s axis is tilted Earth’s axis is tilted

relative to the relative to the plane of its orbitplane of its orbit

SeasonsSeasons……

Why Why does does the the

Earth Earth have have SeasoSeaso

ns?ns?

Why does the Earth have seasons?

Day vs Night ► At the equator the length of “day” is approximately the

same all year long 12 hours of daylight / 12 hrs of darkness

► At the north/south poles, the period of daylight changes from winter to summer and back again Winter in the north has darkness for almost 24 hrs Summer in the north has light for almost 24 hrs The opposite season/daylength exists at the south pole

► For areas in between, the period of daylight changes throughout the year getting longer as summer is approached/getting shorter as winter is approached

► This is due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis and the Earth’s position relative to the sun

A scene you will probably never A scene you will probably never get to see in person.get to see in person.

This is the sunset at the North Pole This is the sunset at the North Pole with the Moon at its closest point.with the Moon at its closest point.

An amazing photo!An amazing photo!