My Day 1 Shortwave Radiation Webpage

4. Look at the Following Questions-

a. Using the legend, determine the value (number and unit) for the darkest blue/dark - blue/almost black color.

The darkest blue, black color means 0 watts per meter squared.

b. Where is this color located in the image?

The color is located in the North Pole region

c. Determine the value for the lightest yellow color. Where is this located in the image?

The yellow means 425 watts per meter squared. The lightest yellow is in Antarctica.

d. Can you think of a possible reason for this situation in January?

Yes I can. The North Pole is tilted away from the sun and Antarctica is tilted more towards the sun.

e. What do you think the image would look like in July? Why?

In July, six months later, the sun is tilted towards the North Pole. The map is going to be almost opposite. The dark blue black color is going to be on Antarctica and the yellow is going to be on the North Pole.

f. Click on the image for July to check your answer and describe what you found below:

I was right. The map was almost opposite for Antarctica and the North Pole. Now the North Pole has all of the sun light and Antarctica has all of the darkness.

g. In general, does water or land appear to have the higher reflectance?

I think it is water if more reflective because not all land is covered in light colors so it reflects easier. Darker colors absorb more light and not every place in the world has light colors. Plus, the oceans does not freeze so the sun can reflect and you can see the light reflecting off of the water on a sunny day.

h. Explain why the poles seem to always show the extremes of reflectance.

I think the Poles have higher reflection because they are covered in ice and snow and they reflect really easily. Also, lighter colors do not absorb much light and barely absorb as much light

I. Earths energy balance is the difference between energy coming in (from the sun) and that leaving (through radiation to space). How does reflectance impact the energy balance?

The earths past one hundred years the earth’s temperature has not gone up or done.

j. How does reflectance and the energy balance impact the temperature of the planet?

If more light is absorbed the Earth will increase in temperature because most of theair stays in the first and second layers of the atmosphere.

This picture is of January 2015 and June 2015 reflected shortwave radiation.