Factors Controlling Temperature Distribution

What is Solar Radiation:

The phrase “solar radiation” is used to refer to the electromagnetic radiation that the sun emits. A lot of devices can be used to collect solar radiation and transform it into useful forms of energy, such as heat and electricity. The sun provides almost all of the energy that the earth needs. The energy that the earth receives from the sun is then radiated back into space. As a result, throughout time, neither the earth’s temperature rises nor falls....

Factors influencing Insolation:

On the surface of the earth, insolation is not distributed equally. It changes depending on the location and the time. The amount of solar radiation reaches its peak in the tropics and then steadily diminishes as it moves toward the poles. Summer is the time of year when insolation is highest and winter is the time when insolation is lowest. The following are the main factors that influence the amount of solar radiation received:...

Heating and Cooling of Atmosphere :

There are different ways of heating and cooling the atmosphere. The main are as follows:...

Heat Budget of the Planet Earth :

The entire planet does not store or release heat. It keeps its temperature constant. This is only possible if the heat absorbed from insolation equals the heat the earth loses from terrestrial radiation. 35% of solar energy is reflected back to space even before it reaches the earth’s surface when 100% of it enters the atmosphere of the planet. The quantity of reflection is referred to as the earth’s albedo. The earth or the atmosphere is not heated by this energy....

Variation in the Net Heat Budget at the Earth’s Surface :

The amount of radiation that the earth’s surface receives varies. While certain areas of the globe have an excess of radiation, others are in deficit.  Between 40 degrees north and south, there is a surplus of net radiation balance, whereas the areas close to the poles have a deficit. The tropics do not gradually get warmer due to the buildup of excess heat or the high latitudes do not become permanently cold due to excess deficiency because the surplus heat energy from the tropics is reallocated polewards....

Temperature :

Heat, which is expressed in terms of temperature, is produced by the interaction of insolation with the atmosphere and the earth’s surface.  In other words, we can say that the measurement of a thing’s or a place’s temperature in degrees is called the temperature....

Factors Controlling Temperature Distribution :

The factors are as follows :...

Global Distribution of Temperature :

By examining the temperature distribution in January and July, it is possible to comprehend the global distribution of temperature.  Isotherms are typically used to depict the temperature distribution on a map.  Lines that connect areas with the same temperature are called isotherms. The distribution of surface air temperature in the months of January and July.   Particularly in the northern hemisphere, the departure from this overall pattern is more pronounced in January than in July....

January Isotherm :

As we know that the northern hemisphere experiences winter in January, while the southern hemisphere experiences summer.  The isotherms over the ocean and the continent diverge in January to the north and south, respectively. On the North Atlantic Ocean, this can be seen. The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift warm the Northern Atlantic Ocean, which causes the isotherms to bend towards the north. In Europe, the land experiences a dramatic drop in temperature and the isotherms curve southward.  At latitudes, 80° N and 50° N, the average January temperature along the 60° E longitude is minus 20° C. January’s average monthly temperature is above 27° C, over 24° C in the tropics, 2° C to 0° C in the intermediate latitudes, and -18° C to -48° C in the interior of the Eurasian continental plate.  In the southern hemisphere, the influence of the ocean is very noticeable. Here, the temperature changes more gradually than in the northern hemisphere because the isotherms are more or less parallel to the latitudes. The latitudes at which the isotherm of 20°, 10°, and 0° C run parallel are 35°, 45°, and 60° S, respectively....

July Isotherm :

The northern hemisphere experiences summer in July, whereas the southern hemisphere experiences winter.  The isothermal behaviour that is seen in July is the reverse of that seen in January. In most cases, the isotherms follow the latitudes parallel.  The hot tropical winds migrate into the interior of the northern hemisphere as land masses get overheated. The oceans, which are significantly cooler, have a moderating impact on tropical interiors.  Along the 30° N latitude, the subtropical continental region of Asia experiences land temperatures of over 30°C. The temperature is 10° C along the 40° N isotherm and 10° C along the 40° S isotherm....

Inversion of Temperature :

Typically, the temperature drops as elevation rise. It’s known as the usual lapse rate. The typical lapse rate can occasionally be flipped when the circumstances are reversed. It is known as a temperature inversion. Inversions are often brief but nonetheless relatively frequent.   An optimal environment for an inversion is a long winter night with calm air and clear skies. By early morning, the earth is colder than the atmosphere because the heat of the day has dissipated during the night. Temperature inversion is typical year-round over polar regions.  Inversion at the surface encourages stability in the lower atmosphere. Under the inversion layer, smoke and dust particles gather and expand horizontally to cover the lower layers of the atmosphere. Morning-dense fogs are not uncommon, especially throughout the winter. Typically, this inversion only lasts a few hours before the sun starts to rise and warm the ground.  Hills and mountains experience inversion because of air drainage. Gravity causes the cold air formed at the hills and mountains during the night to flow. Due to its weight and density, the cold air flows down the hill and piles up deeply in pockets and the valley bottoms with warm air above it. It is known as air drainage. It shields plants from damage caused by frost....