Solar Energy andThe Atmosphere

Ms. Clement

Earths Interior Energya. Volcanoes, earthquakes, geysers, and hot

springs are clues that the earth produces energyb. The energy is hot enough to melt rocks and

metal!!

c. Heat energy moves to a cooler surface and thento the atmosphere

d. As the hotter material rises, cooler materialsinks (this causes the plate movement and ourclues from above!)

e. Fill in the chart below to compare the amountsof Earth’s internal energy with the incomingsolar energy and also energy used by society:

Earths Interior Energy

15,000.0Solar

2.5Internal

1.0Human Societies

AMOUNT OF ENERGYTYPE OF ENERGY

Comparison of Earth’s Energy Flow

Although the Earth’s internal energy contributes littlecompared to the sun, it is very important to how ourEarth changes and forms

Absorption of Energy

1. The Earth’s atmosphere and ground bothabsorb and reflect sunlight and UV rays

2. The fate of incoming solar energy (Where doesit all go??)

– Absorbed by the ground (heats the ground) = 45%– Absorbed by the atmosphere (heats the air) = 22%– Reflected back into space by clouds and then lost =

26%– Reflected back into space by ground, oceans, snow

or ice = 7%

Absorption of Energy

3. Only 67% of sunlight is actually absorbed andheats the Earth

4. A smaller portion of sunlight is used inphotosynthesis

– Plants cannot process the carbon dioxide andoxygen without sunlight!

– Sunlight is absorbed in plants and converted toenergy

5. Remember, ENERGY IS NEVER CREATED ORDESTROYED… IT JUST CHANGES FORM!!!

The Greenhouse Effect

1. The Greenhouse Effect process

– Sunlight heats up the ground– The warm ground releases heat energy as

infrared rays– These infrared rays get absorbed by the

atmosphere– The atmosphere heats up!!– It is also referred to as global warming

The Greenhouse Effect2. Negative impact: the Earth and atmosphere is

much warmer than if there was no atmosphereat all

3. Positive impact: if there was no greenhouseeffect, there would be no “life on earth”… heatwould never have existed!

4. There are two main gases that absorb theEarth’s thermal radiation (making theatmosphere warmer)

– Carbon Dioxide (CO2)– Water vapor (H2O)