919Florida
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2001
- Messages
- 358
Hello,
I am working on an assessment for my Envrionmental Science class. I have finished the assignment, but I was wondering if someone could go over it.
I think I did okay, but my teacher is a very hard grader and we only have one chance. Any help that anyone could give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much 
1. What is the source of the Earth's energy? What are at least three things that happen to that energy once it gets to the Earth? The sun is the major source of energy, it is responsible for almost all of the energy on the earth and its various systems. Atmospheric process changes the solar radiation passing through the atmosphere. These processes include the scattering of the small particles and the gas molecules diffuse as part of the incoming solar radiation in random directions with no alterations to the wavelength of the electromagnetic energy. Absorption is another process in which occurs to the energy from the sun. Absorption is the retaining of solar radiation and converting it into heat energy. Reflection is another process that occurs to the suns energy. Reflection is the redirecting of the sunlight by 180 degrees after it reaches an atmospheric particle.
A portion of the suns energy that passes through the earth is reflected back to space by cloud and particles; this amounts to about 26 percent of the suns energy. Clouds and gases, such as ozone and other particles in the atmosphere, absorb some of the suns energy that passes through the atmosphere; this amounts to about 19 percent of the suns energy. There is now a remaining 55 percent of the suns energy left by the time the energy has passed through the atmosphere. Another 4 percent of the left over energy is reflected back to space leaving a remaining 51 percent of the suns energy that reaches the surface of the earth.
2. Since energy is constantly arriving, why doesn't the Earth just keep getting hotter and hotter until all the water evaporates and all life dries up? Because energy from the sun continuously is arriving at the earth we need something that can protect us from its dangerous ultraviolet rays. The ozone layer helps to shield the earth from these ultraviolet rays; this can help prevent more serious illnesss that are caused by the sun. The ozone layer also helps to prevent the amount of sun that reaches the earth so that are drinking sources will not evaporate and the earth eventually dry up completely. Without the ozone layer we would see more cases of skin cancer, sunburns, cataracts and other diseases cause by the suns ultraviolet rays. Without the ozone layer we would slowly watch our water dry up more and more each day, until it is eventually gone.
3. What are the two primary reasons why the weather in Ohio is generally cold in January and generally warm in July? As most people would think the earth does not get any closer to the sun in July causing the temperatures to be warmer, the earth goes in a circular motion so it does not get any closer or farther away from the sun. The truth actually is that the sun is a tiny bit closer to the sun in the winter, rather than summer. The reason the weather is cooler in January and warm in July is because of the tilt of the earth on its axis. During the winter solstice the Northern Hemisphere is facing away from the sun. During the summer solstice the Northern Hemisphere is facing the sun. The angle, which the suns rays hit the earth, or the angle incidence, is on of the effects of the tilt of the earth. The sun hits more directly at the equator and then spreads at the poles. This means that the amount of solar radiation per unit area is large at the equator and smaller at the poles. Because the sun heats a smaller area at the equator and a larger area at the poles the temperatures nearest the equator is going to be warmer than those at the poles.
4. What are the two primary reasons why the weather in the Amazon River Valley is generally warm all year long and the weather in Antarctica is generally cold all year long? The reason that the Amazon River Valley is generally warm all year long is because of its location on the earth. Because the Valley is very close to the Equator the rays from the sun that it receives will strike at a very small angle. Because the angles of the suns rays are so small the sun will shine in a smaller area of land. Because the rays are not being spread out they will be more intense in the areas that they do shine. The more of an angle the sun shines the less intense the rays will be and the cooler the temperatures will be. The Amazon River Valley is receiving strong rays, which causes it to be much warmer. The reason that Antarctica is usually cold all year long is because of its location on the earth. Because the South Pole is so far from the equator the suns rays hit at more of an angle. This causes the rays to spread over a large area. The spreading of the rays causes there to be less intensity in the rays that do strike the location. The farther away from the equator a location is the cooler the temperatures will be. As you come closer to the equator the warmer the temperatures will become.
5. Why does the weather of most of the United States (including Ohio) change more from day to day or week to week than the weather in the Tropics? The Tropics is located closer to the equator. As I mentioned in the question above the closer you are to the equator the warmer the temperatures will be. The United States is located in an area where both cold and warm temperatures can reach it. The Tropics are located in an area where only warm temperatures can reach them in a short period of time. This causes the Tropics to have temperatures that often very close to the day before and changes in temperatures are slight.
I am working on an assessment for my Envrionmental Science class. I have finished the assignment, but I was wondering if someone could go over it.
I think I did okay, but my teacher is a very hard grader and we only have one chance. Any help that anyone could give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much 1. What is the source of the Earth's energy? What are at least three things that happen to that energy once it gets to the Earth? The sun is the major source of energy, it is responsible for almost all of the energy on the earth and its various systems. Atmospheric process changes the solar radiation passing through the atmosphere. These processes include the scattering of the small particles and the gas molecules diffuse as part of the incoming solar radiation in random directions with no alterations to the wavelength of the electromagnetic energy. Absorption is another process in which occurs to the energy from the sun. Absorption is the retaining of solar radiation and converting it into heat energy. Reflection is another process that occurs to the suns energy. Reflection is the redirecting of the sunlight by 180 degrees after it reaches an atmospheric particle.
A portion of the suns energy that passes through the earth is reflected back to space by cloud and particles; this amounts to about 26 percent of the suns energy. Clouds and gases, such as ozone and other particles in the atmosphere, absorb some of the suns energy that passes through the atmosphere; this amounts to about 19 percent of the suns energy. There is now a remaining 55 percent of the suns energy left by the time the energy has passed through the atmosphere. Another 4 percent of the left over energy is reflected back to space leaving a remaining 51 percent of the suns energy that reaches the surface of the earth.
2. Since energy is constantly arriving, why doesn't the Earth just keep getting hotter and hotter until all the water evaporates and all life dries up? Because energy from the sun continuously is arriving at the earth we need something that can protect us from its dangerous ultraviolet rays. The ozone layer helps to shield the earth from these ultraviolet rays; this can help prevent more serious illnesss that are caused by the sun. The ozone layer also helps to prevent the amount of sun that reaches the earth so that are drinking sources will not evaporate and the earth eventually dry up completely. Without the ozone layer we would see more cases of skin cancer, sunburns, cataracts and other diseases cause by the suns ultraviolet rays. Without the ozone layer we would slowly watch our water dry up more and more each day, until it is eventually gone.
3. What are the two primary reasons why the weather in Ohio is generally cold in January and generally warm in July? As most people would think the earth does not get any closer to the sun in July causing the temperatures to be warmer, the earth goes in a circular motion so it does not get any closer or farther away from the sun. The truth actually is that the sun is a tiny bit closer to the sun in the winter, rather than summer. The reason the weather is cooler in January and warm in July is because of the tilt of the earth on its axis. During the winter solstice the Northern Hemisphere is facing away from the sun. During the summer solstice the Northern Hemisphere is facing the sun. The angle, which the suns rays hit the earth, or the angle incidence, is on of the effects of the tilt of the earth. The sun hits more directly at the equator and then spreads at the poles. This means that the amount of solar radiation per unit area is large at the equator and smaller at the poles. Because the sun heats a smaller area at the equator and a larger area at the poles the temperatures nearest the equator is going to be warmer than those at the poles.
4. What are the two primary reasons why the weather in the Amazon River Valley is generally warm all year long and the weather in Antarctica is generally cold all year long? The reason that the Amazon River Valley is generally warm all year long is because of its location on the earth. Because the Valley is very close to the Equator the rays from the sun that it receives will strike at a very small angle. Because the angles of the suns rays are so small the sun will shine in a smaller area of land. Because the rays are not being spread out they will be more intense in the areas that they do shine. The more of an angle the sun shines the less intense the rays will be and the cooler the temperatures will be. The Amazon River Valley is receiving strong rays, which causes it to be much warmer. The reason that Antarctica is usually cold all year long is because of its location on the earth. Because the South Pole is so far from the equator the suns rays hit at more of an angle. This causes the rays to spread over a large area. The spreading of the rays causes there to be less intensity in the rays that do strike the location. The farther away from the equator a location is the cooler the temperatures will be. As you come closer to the equator the warmer the temperatures will become.
5. Why does the weather of most of the United States (including Ohio) change more from day to day or week to week than the weather in the Tropics? The Tropics is located closer to the equator. As I mentioned in the question above the closer you are to the equator the warmer the temperatures will be. The United States is located in an area where both cold and warm temperatures can reach it. The Tropics are located in an area where only warm temperatures can reach them in a short period of time. This causes the Tropics to have temperatures that often very close to the day before and changes in temperatures are slight.
I would seperate your 5 questions from their respective answers with a space or two each. If I was the teacher, an 
