How many Way’s of heat transfer in the Atmosphere? – Geography

Table of Contents

The differential amount of sun’s energy is received by various latitudinal zones
On earth the primary reason behind the occurrence of season is insolation.
Insolation also effects wind systems, pressure systems, precipitation etc.

CONDUCTION

The heat transfer through conduction happens due to molecular activity in a conducting medium.
There is no actual movement of the medium itself.
Generally, denser materials like iron, water are good conductors, and lighter medium like air are bad conductors of heat.

Convection is the transfer of heat energy by actual transfer of matter or substance from one place to another.
E.g. heat transfer by convection cells in a boiling pot of water, atmosphere or oceans

Some heat from within the earth’s interior is processed in transferred to the surface through volcanoes, springs, and geysers.
However, the heat received from the interior at the ocean bottom is key to the survival of deep ocean lifeforms that depend on bacteria that grow near the volcanic vents.
At ocean depths, as sunlight is non-existent, photosynthesis is impossible.
The bacteria rely on chemosynthesis, a process in which microbes use chemicals in the vent fluid to produce energy

Radiation doesn’t require a medium for heat transfer.
Heat is transferred from one body to another without actual contact or movement in the medium. • E.g. Heat transfer from the sun to earth through space.

Insolation is the amount of sun’s energy received in the form of radiation by the earth.
It is measured as the amount of solar energy received per square centimeter per minute.
Earth intercepts less than a billionth of solar radiation.
Earth receives sun’s radiation in the form of short waves which are electromagnetic.
The earth absorbs short wave radiation during daytime and reflects the heat received into space as longwave radiation during night.