An electron is accelerated through an electric potential

Thursday, February 2, 2017 Mountain Climate (Part 1) Terms Key Concepts The Solar Source - Hydrogen is being converted into helium; gives out energy The Sun emits two forms of energy that interact with the Earth: Charged particles (solar wind) from corona • • Electromagnetic energy Charged particles are mostly intercepted by the Earth’s magnetic shield, and produce phenomena like geomagnetic storms, and aurora. Electromagnetic energy travels much faster and mostly does not interact with the Earth’s atmosphere, so it is what powers all weather and climate processes Evidence of solar storms - sunspots - Big dark areas on the sun - A cooler spot on the sun’s surface; a storm (faculae) Charged particles interact with Earth’s magnetosphere - produces a zone for these incoming particles (polar regions); produces aurora The Electromagnetic Spectrum • No physical medium required for transmission • Types differ by wave properties Solar Energy Wavelength - Peaks at about 0.5 micrometers - As it gets absorbed, it’s transformed into longer heat radiation 1 Thursday, February 2, 2017 Reasons for Seasons Revolution - Earth revolves around the Sun - Revolution takes one year (364.35 days) - Earth’s speed is 107,280 kmph Rotation - Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours - Rotational velocity at equator is 1674 kmph Tilt of Earth’s axis - Axis is tilted 23.5° from plane of ecliptic Axial parallelism - Axis maintains al