Average Distribution of Incoming Solar

Radiation

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 Albedo

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 Atmospheric Heating

• Radiation from Earth’s surface

– Earth reradiates radiation (terrestrial radiation) at the
longer wavelengths
– Longer wavelength terrestrial radiation is absorbed by
• Carbon dioxide
• Water vapor

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 Atmospheric Heating

• Heating of the atmosphere is termed the

greenhouse effect

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 Greenhouse Effect

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 Temperature Measurement

• Daily maximum and minimum

• Other measurements
– Daily mean temperature
– Daily range
– Monthly mean
– Annual mean
– Annual temperature range

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 Temperature Measurement

• Isotherms
– Lines connecting points of equal temperatures on a map
– Used to show distribution of air tempertures
• Temperature gradient – amount of temperature
change per unit of distance

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 Isotherms

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 Controls of Temperature

• Land and water

– Land heats more rapidly and to higher temperatures than
water
– Water has high specific heat – amount of energy needed
to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance
1 degree Celsius

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 Differential Heating of Land and Water

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 Mean Monthly Temperatures for Two
Locations in Canada

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 Controls of Temperature

• Altitude –higher altitudes have lower temperatures

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 Controls of Temperature

• Geographic position
– Windward coast
– Leeward coast

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 Controls of Temperature

• Cloud cover and albedo

– Clouds have high albedo
– Clouds cool air during the day, keep heat in at night

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 Temperature Measurement

• Human perception of temperature

– Anything that influences the rate of heat loss from the body
also influences the sensation of temperature
– Important factors are
• Air temperature
• Relative humidity
• Wind speed
• Sunshine

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 Controls of Temperature

• Temperature variations
• Receipt of solar radiation is the most important
control

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 World Distribution of Temperature

• Temperature maps
– Isotherm – a line connecting places of equal temperature
– Temperatures are adjusted to sea level
– January and July are used for analysis because they
represent the temperature extremes

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 World Distribution of Temperature

• Global temperature patterns

– Temperature decreases poleward from the tropics
– Isotherms exhibit a latitudinal shift with the seasons
– Warmest and coldest temperatures occur over land

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 World Distribution of Temperature

• Global temperature patterns

– In the Southern Hemisphere
• Isotherms are straighter
• Isotherms are more stable
– Isotherms show ocean currents
– Annual temperature range
• Small near equator
• Increases with an increase in latitude
• Greatest over continental locations

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 World Mean Sea-Level Temperatures in
January

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 World Mean Sea-Level Temperatures in July

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