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Understanding Global Temperature Distribution: Factors and Control

Solar Radiation, Greenhouse Effect, Isotherms, Temperature Measurement

billyhopkins
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Understanding Global Temperature Distribution: Factors and Control

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  1. Average Distribution of Incoming Solar Radiation

  2. Albedo

  3. 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

  4. Atmospheric Heating • Heating of the atmosphere is termed the greenhouse effect

  5. Greenhouse Effect

  6. Temperature Measurement • Daily maximum and minimum • Other measurements • Daily mean temperature • Daily range • Monthly mean • Annual mean • Annual temperature range

  7. 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

  8. Isotherms

  9. 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

  10. Differential Heating of Land and Water

  11. Mean Monthly Temperatures for Two Locations in Canada

  12. Controls of Temperature • Altitude –higher altitudes have lower temperatures

  13. Controls of Temperature • Geographic position • Windward coast • Leeward coast

  14. Controls of Temperature • Cloud cover and albedo • Clouds have high albedo • Clouds cool air during the day, keep heat in at night

  15. 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

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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. World Mean Sea-Level Temperatures in January

  21. World Mean Sea-Level Temperatures in July

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