Directions:  Step through the slides and answer the following questions.

1.   Name and describe three things that could happen when radiation (light or heat) strikes a surface.
 

Possible Action	How is the radiation affected?	How is the surface affected?
1.
2.
3.

2.   When radiation from the sun reaches the earth,  the first thing it hits is:  __________________

3.   What is Albedo?
 

4.   Of all the energy we get from the Sun, how much is reflected back out into space?  _________________

5.  The data image on slide #sld012 shows the Annual Average Albedo.  Red shows surfaces with high Albedo (reflectivity) and blue shows low albedo.     Summarize the pattern of surface albedo on the Earth.  In particular, name the spheres with high and low albedo.
 
 
 
 
 
 

6.  THINK about it:   If a surface does not reflect energy, then it probably absorbs the energy. (or transmits it)

Look again at slide #sld012.   What kind of surface on Earth tends to mostly absorb energy?  _______________________________________

7.   What factors influence albedo? (three)
 
 

8.   What two parts of the Earth do the most reflecting of the Sun's energy?
 
 

9.    Describe the percentages of what happens to radiation in Earth's atmosphere.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Use a dictionary to find the definitions:

            10.  radiation -
 

            11.  radiate -
 

12.   Ok, SOME of the energy gets all the way down to the ground.  What happens to most of the energy there on the Earth's surface, and how does it affect the surface?
 
 
 

13.   Next,  what does the warm surface do?  ___________________________________

14.  Describe the energy coming off the warm surface... what's different about it?
 
 

15.  Summarize:

	Incoming energy from the Sun	Energy after it has been absorbed  and then radiated again
What do we call it?  (common names)
What can you say about it's wavelength?

16.   Name 3 'Greenhouse gases'. (they absorb longwave energy very well).
 
 

17.   The Sun's energy does not give much heat directly to the atmosphere.   How is the atmosphere heated?
 
 

18.  What is the Energy Balance?
 
 

19.   The temperatures of the atmosphere depend on ...what?   ________________
 
 

20.   The Greenhouse Effect happens naturally and is very important - it's what keeps us all nice and comfy at temperatures we like  (not like on the Moon, which has no atmosphere, and where we would either BOIL or FREEZE solid!)
You've read about global warming.  Using the ideas of the energy budget,  explain what you think global warming is (I'm not asking you to use a resource on this other than your own brain!)