Mcknight's Physical Geography Key Terms Chaps. 1-5

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electromagnetic radiation

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The form of energy given off by the Sun

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radiant energy

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Another term for the form of energy given off by the Sun

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electromagnetic spectrum

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Comprised of all wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation

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visible light

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Wavelengths of radiation to which the human eye is sensitive

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ultraviolet (UV) radiation

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Wavelengths of radiation just shorter than the human eye can sense

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infrared (IR) radiation

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Wavelengths of radiation just longer than the human eye can sense (Ranges from short near infrared wavelengths emitted by the Sun, to much longer thermal infrared wavelengths emitted by Earth)

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thermal infrared

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Longer wavelength infrared radiation emitted by Earth

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shortwave radiation

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Consists of visible light, ultraviolet radiation and short infrared radiation

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terrestrial radiation

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Radiation emitted by Earth

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longwave radiation

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Lies entirely in the thermal infrared portion of the spectrum

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insolation

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INcoming SOLar radiATION

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radiation (or emission)

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The process by which electromagnetic energy is emitted from an object

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(blackbody radiator)

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A body that emits the maximum possible amount of radiation at all wavelengths

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absorption

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The process by which electromagnetic waves striking an object are assimilated by that object

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reflection

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The ability of an object to repel electromagnetic waves without altering either the object or the waves

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scattering

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A type of reflection where gas molecules and particulate matter in the air can deflect light waves and redirect them

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transmission

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The process whereby electromagnetic waves pass through a medium

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greenhouse effect (or "atmospheric affect")

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The retention of heat in the lower troposphere because of differential transmissivity for the shortwaves and longwaves

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greenhouse gases

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A number of gases in the atmosphere that readily transmit incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun but do not easily transmit outgoing longwave terrestrial radiation (primarily water vapor and carbon dioxide)

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conduction

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The movement of heat energy from one molecule to another without changes to their relative positions

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convection

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The process by which heath is transferred from one point to another by the predominately vertical circulation of a fluid such as air of water

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convection cell

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A convective circulation system

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advection

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When the dominant direction of heat transfer in a moving fluid is horizontal

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("adiabatic")

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"Without the gain of loss of heat"

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adiabatic cooling

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Cooling by expansion

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adiabatic warming

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Warming by compression

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latent heat

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Latent: "lying hidden"

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evaporation

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The phase change in which liquid water is converted to gaseous water vapor (A cooling process - storing latent heat energy)

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condensation

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The phase change in which gaseous water vapor is converted to liquid water (A warming process - releasing latent heat energy)

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albedo

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The reflectivity of an object; the higher the albedo value, the more radiation the object reflects