Tag: geography

Temperature decreases down the valley, it is known as the inversion of temperature. Especially during the winter nights the temperature increase with the altitude. This is mainly due to rapid radiation from the ground and on account of the flow of heavy cold air down the valley.

Water,

A temperature of the atmosphere and altitude are interrelated. The temperature of the atmosphere decrease with increasing altitude from the earth's surface. This vertical decrease in temperature of the atmosphere is limited to the troposphere. The atmosphere is heated mainly from below. Therefore, within the troposphere, as we go higher temperature gradually decreases to about 6.5 degrees C per km. Sometimes, especially during cold winter nights the temperature increase with the altitude. This is mainly due to the rapid radiation from the ground and on account of the flow of heavy cold air down the valley.

Following are the factors which can influence the temperature of a place: -

1. Latitude - Temperature is higher at or near the equator and lower at north and south poles.
   
2. Altitude - At high altitude, i.e. at mountains, temperature is low. At low altitude, i.e. on land surfaces, temperature is high.
   
3. Distance from the sea - Temperature at place located near coast is different from those located inland. Difference in heating of land and water affects the temperature of these places.
   
4. Ocean currents - Ocean currents can raise or lower the temperature of the areas located near coastal region.

The climate zones of the earth arise due to the temperature difference. The classification of heat zones of the earth was first done by Greek Scholar Aristotle. The different heat zones of the earth are - Torrid Zone, Frigid Zone and Temperate zone. All these zones have a different temperature range. Torrid Zone is the hottest zone among the zones of the earth.

Factors responsible for variation in insolation during a day, season and a year:

1. Rotation of Earth
2. The angle of inclination of Sun’s rays.
3. Length of day
4. Transparency of atmosphere
5. Configuration of land in terms of its aspect.

Earth’s axis has a 66.5 degrees angle with the plane of orbit around the sun leads to variation in insolation at different latitudes.

Area covered by slant rays is more than vertical rays. Energy gets distributed and net energy received per unit area decreases. The slant rays of Solar radiation are absorbed, scattered & diffused more in the deep atmosphere.

It is found that there is a balance of incoming solar radiation and the amount of terrestrial radiation returned to space. The balance of incoming and outgoing radiation is termed as heat balance. so, heat balance is the average balance between incoming and outgoing radiation. 

There is a balance of incoming solar radiation and the amount of terrestrial radiation returned to space. The balance of incoming and outgoing radiation is termed as heat balance. 

Sun is the main source of energy for earth. The earth 's surface receives solar energy in form of short-wave solar radiation where it is converted into heat by the process of absorption. The earth sends the same amount of energy back to space in the form of long-wave terrestrial radiation. This balance between the amount of insolation received from the sun and the outgoing terrestrial radiation is known as the earth's heat budget.