Page 78 - Geosystems An Introduction to Physical Geography 4th Canadian Edition

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42 partone pTahretTeintlergy–ATmospheresysTem
concepts
key LeArnIng
Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons
After reading the chapter, you should be able to:
• Distinguish between galaxies, stars, and planets, and locate earth.
• Summarize the origin, formation, and development of earth, and reconstruct
earth’s annual orbit about the sun.
• Describe the sun’s operation, and explain the characteristics of the solar wind and the electromagnetic spectrum of radiant energy.
• Illustrate the interception of solar energy and its uneven distribution at the top of the atmosphere.
• Define solar altitude, solar declination, and daylength, and describe the annual variability of each—earth’s seasonality.
on Fogo Island in the Cape Verde archi­ pelago, a small village lies within the Cha Caldera, a large depression formed when the volcanic summit of pico de Fogo col­ lapsed after an eruption. on the date of
this photo, robert Christopherson and his wife were close to the subsolar point, the latitude on earth where the sun’s rays are perpendicular to the surface at local noon. Looking closely, you can see shadows cast directly below the trees in this courtyard. The caldera wall is visible in the background. Geosystems Now describes robert Christopherson’s chase of the subsolar point from aboard a ship in the Atlantic ocean; the chase ended here at Fogo Island on
may 1 at 14.8 n latitude. Chapter 2 discusses energy from the sun and the seasonal changes we experience on earth. An eruption began in november 2014 from the pico volcano on Fogo Island; evacuations were required as lava flows progressed over the main roadway and toward this photo scene. [Bobbé Christopherson.]