Air-Sea Interaction: Earth’s Seasons

CHAPTER 6
Air-Sea Interaction
Earth’s Seasons
Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted ______° with respect to ecliptic.
Ecliptic – plane traced by Earth’s __________ ___________
Axis always points in the same _________, ___________ (_____________)
Seasonal changes and Earth’s rotation cause ___________ solar heating of Earth’s surface.

Tilt responsible for seasons
Vernal (spring) equinox - _March______
Sun is directly overhead along the __________
Summer solstice - _______________
Sun is directly overhead along the _________________
Autumnal equinox - _______________
Sun is directly overhead along the______________
Winter solstice - _______________
Sun is directly overhead along the _________________
Solar Energy on Earth
________________ – __________ distance of _______ from __________ plane
Varies between _______° North and ________° South latitudes
Tropics - receives ________ __________ annual radiation than _______

Polar areas

Arctic Circle – ______________ latitude

Antarctic Circle – ___________ latitude

Winters-
_______ ___________ solar radiation, up to_______months of __________

Summers-
____________ radiation, up to ______months of ____________

Distribution of Solar Energy
_______________ solar radiation at ___________ latitudes
________ angle of incidence
__________solar footprint
Solar radiation more___________at ___________ latitudes
_______ angle of incidence
____________ amount of radiation spread over a ____________area

Atmosphere _____________ radiation
Thickness varies with _______________
Albedo: 0–100%
________________________________
Average for Earth is ______%
Angle of sun on sea surface
Determines how much radiation is ___________ and ___________
As angle _______________, __________ radiation is reflected
Example: Draw ocean surface, angle of sun light hitting surface, and angle of reflection if any.

Oceanic Heat Flow
High latitudes–more