Test: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance & Temperature - 2 - Humanities/Arts MCQ

Solar energy is primarily radiated from the sun in the form of:

• Electromagnetic waves: This includes a range of wavelengths.
• These waves encompass various types of radiation, such as:
• Ultraviolet radiation: This is responsible for effects like sunburn.
• Infrared radiation: This is felt as heat.

Electromagnetic waves travel through space and are vital for various processes, such as:

• Photosynthesis in plants, which converts sunlight into energy.
• Solar power generation, harnessing this energy for electricity.

In summary, the sun emits energy primarily as electromagnetic waves, which include both ultraviolet and infrared radiation.

The Earth is closest to the Sun during a specific time of year.

This event occurs due to the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit. Key points include:

• The date when the Earth is nearest to the Sun is known as perihelion.
• Perihelion typically occurs around 3rd January each year.
• During perihelion, the Earth is about 147 million kilometres from the Sun.
• In contrast, the Earth is farthest from the Sun on 4th July, known as aphelion.

Understanding these dates helps to clarify the relationship between the Earth and the Sun throughout the year.

The highest temperatures in the subtropics of the Northern Hemisphere occur for several reasons:

• Subtropical regions generally have less cloud cover than equatorial areas, allowing more direct sunlight to heat the surface.

• During summer, these regions experience longer daylight hours, which contributes to increased temperatures.

• The greenhouse effect is often stronger in subtropical areas, trapping more heat compared to the equator.

• Subtropical locations are typically closer to oceanic areas, which can influence local climate and temperature levels.

Insolation refers to the incoming solar radiation that reaches the Earth. This energy is crucial for various natural processes, including weather patterns and photosynthesis.

• The Earth is at its farthest distance from the Sun, approximately 152 million kilometres, on 4th July, a position known as Aphelion.
• Conversely, the point where the Earth is closest to the Sun is called Perihelion.

Understanding these positions helps in grasping how the Earth's orbit affects seasonal changes and climate. The terms Aphelion and Perihelion are key to comprehending our planet's relationship with the Sun.

Insolation refers to the amount of solar radiation received by a given area. It is a critical concept in understanding how sunlight impacts the Earth’s climate and weather patterns.

• Solar radiation is the energy emitted by the sun, which travels through space and reaches the Earth.
• Insolation varies based on factors such as:
• The angle of the sun's rays
• Time of year
• The geographical location
• High levels of insolation can lead to warmer temperatures, affecting local climates.
• It plays a key role in processes like photosynthesis, impacting ecosystems and agriculture.

Earth receives almost all its energy from the

• The primary source of energy for Earth is the Sun.
• The Sun provides light and warmth, which are essential for life.
• Plants use sunlight for photosynthesis, producing oxygen and food.
• The Sun's energy drives weather patterns and other natural processes.
• Other celestial bodies, like the Moon and stars, have minimal impact on Earth's energy.

As height increases, the temperature typically decreases at a consistent rate, known as the normal lapse rate.

This phenomenon is important in understanding how climate and weather patterns change with altitude. Key points include:

• The normal lapse rate refers to the average decrease in temperature with an increase in elevation.
• On average, the temperature drops about 6.5 degrees Celsius for every 1,000 metres you ascend.
• This rate can vary based on factors such as humidity and atmospheric conditions.
• Understanding the normal lapse rate helps in predicting weather changes and understanding climatic zones.

In contrast, an inversion of temperature occurs when this pattern is reversed, leading to warmer air above cooler air, which can cause fog and pollution to persist.

Overall, grasping the concept of the normal lapse rate is crucial for studying meteorology and environmental science.

Inversion of temperature occurs in mountainous regions due to several factors that affect local weather patterns. The primary cause is:

• Air drainage: Cold air tends to flow downwards into valleys during the night. This process causes cooler air to settle at lower elevations, while warmer air remains above.
• Topography: The shape of the land can trap cold air in valleys, leading to a significant temperature difference between the valley floor and higher altitudes.
• Radiation cooling: At night, the earth's surface loses heat rapidly, cooling the air directly above it. In mountainous areas, this can lead to colder air being trapped beneath warmer air.

Other factors, such as humidity and local weather conditions, can also play a role in temperature inversions, but air drainage is the most significant cause in these regions.

On 21st June, the sun is directly overhead at noon at:

• The Equator (0° latitude).

• 23.5° North (the Tropic of Cancer).

• 23.5° South (the Tropic of Capricorn).

• 66.5° North (the Arctic Circle).

The correct answer is the Tropic of Cancer, located at 23.5° N latitude, where the sun is directly overhead at noon during the summer solstice. This phenomenon does not occur at the Equator, which experiences overhead sun on the equinoxes, and at the Tropic of Capricorn or the Arctic Circle at this time of year.

The correct answer is b) 51%.

About 51% of the solar energy received at the top of the Earth's atmosphere makes it to the surface. The rest is absorbed or scattered by the atmosphere, clouds, and particles.

Solar radiation received at any point on Earth is referred to as:

• Insolation: This is the total amount of solar energy received on a given surface area during a specific time.

• Beam Radiation: This refers to the direct sunlight that reaches the Earth without being scattered.

• Diffuse Radiation: This is sunlight that has been scattered by molecules and particles in the atmosphere, resulting in softer, indirect light.

• Infrared Rays: These are a type of radiant energy emitted by the sun, but they are not the total solar radiation received on Earth.

Among these terms, insolation is the most comprehensive, encompassing both direct and diffuse solar radiation received at the surface.

The correct answer is: a) Poles

Explanation:

• At the Poles, the phenomenon of polar day (continuous daylight for 6 months) and polar night (continuous darkness for 6 months) occurs. This results in the longest days and nights, lasting up to six months each, depending on the season.

• At the Equator, days and nights are nearly equal in length throughout the year, roughly 12 hours each.

• At the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, day and night lengths vary throughout the year, but they never experience the extreme durations observed at the Poles.

The angle made by the rays of the sun on the Earth's surface is referred to as theangle of incidence.

This concept is vital in understanding how sunlight interacts with the Earth, influencing various phenomena, including:

• Temperature: The angle of incidence affects how much solar energy reaches the surface, impacting local temperatures.
• Weather patterns: Variations in sunlight angles contribute to different weather conditions across seasons.
• Photosynthesis: Plants rely on the angle of sunlight for optimal growth, as it affects how much light is available for photosynthesis.

In summary, the angle of incidence is a key factor in understanding solar energy distribution on Earth.

Differences in pressure on the Earth's surface lead to several important phenomena:

• Winds: Variations in air pressure create movements of air, resulting in winds. High-pressure areas push air towards low-pressure areas.

• Precipitation: Changes in pressure can cause moisture in the air to condense and fall as rain or snow, contributing to weather patterns.

• Hail: In certain conditions, strong updrafts in thunderstorms can lead to the formation of hail, where ice pellets are created.

• Seasons: While pressure differences contribute to weather, they also play a role in the changing seasons due to the tilt of the Earth's axis and its orbit around the sun.

The distance of the Earth from the Sun varies throughout the year due to its elliptical orbit. On the 4th of July, the Earth is at its farthest point from the Sun, known as aphelion.

• At aphelion, the distance is approximately 152 million km.
• This is around 5 million km more than the average distance of 147 million km.
• Understanding these distances helps astronomers study solar energy and its effects on our planet.

In contrast, the Earth is closest to the Sun, known as perihelion, in early January, at about 147 million km.