Page 76 - Geosystems An Introduction to Physical Geography 4th Canadian Edition

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The Energy– Atmosphere System
ChaptEr 2
Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons 42
ChaptEr 3
Earth’s Modern atmosphere 64
ChaptEr 4
atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances 90
ChaptEr 5
Global temperatures 116
ChaptEr 6
atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations 142
For more than 4.6 billion years, solar energy has travelled across interplanetary space to Earth, where a small portion of the solar out­ put is intercepted. Our planet and our lives are powered by this radiant energy from the Sun. Because of Earth’s curvature, the arriving energy is unevenly distributed at the top of the atmo­ sphere, creating energy imbalances over Earth’s surface—the equatorial region experiences surpluses, receiving more energy than it emits;
▼ Sahara Desert near Tadrart, Algeria [Pichugin Dmitry/Shutterstock.]
INPUTS
Solar energy to Earth Earth’s modern atmosphere
ACTIONS
Atmosphere and surface energy balances
HUMAN–EARTH RELATION Climate change
Air pollution
Ozone depletion
Acid deposition Temperature in urban areas Solar energy
Wind power
OUTPUTS
Global temperatures Wind and ocean currents