Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature Test - 2

The amount of solar radiation reflected to the earth is called albedo.

The Isotherms are lines joining places having equal temperatures. 

The places near the sea level record higher temperatures than the places situated at higher elevations. In other words, the temperature generally decreases with increasing height. The rate of decrease of temperature with height is termed the normal lapse rate. It is 6.5°C per 1,000 m.

The surplus heat energy from the tropics is redistributed pole wards and as a result, the tropics do not get progressively heated up due to the accumulation of excess heat or the high latitudes get permanently frozen due to excess deficit.

The summer begins on or about June 21, when the Sun is directly overhead at local noon on the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N latitude). This is the Summer Solstice.

This process of vertical heating of the atmosphere is known as convection.

Maximum insolation is received over the subtropical deserts, where the cloudiness is the least. The Equator receives comparatively less insolation than the tropics. 

The highest range of temperature is more than 60° C over the north-eastern part of the Eurasian continent. This is due to continentality. The least range of temperature, 3°C, is found between 20° S and 15° N.

Like the land and sea breezes, the passage of air masses also affects the temperature. The places, which come under the influence of warm air masses experience higher temperature and the places that come under the influence of cold air masses experience low temperature.

The air in contact with the land gets heated slowly and the upper layers in contact with the lower layers also get heated. This process is called conduction.