Earth S Heat Budget Report Sheet

Earth’s Heat Budget – Report Sheet

Name: ______

Date: ______

Energy Absorbed (Deposited) / Energy Re-radiated (Withdrawn) / Difference in Deposit and Withdrawal / Surface Temperature (Balance)
Previous Balance / 210
November / 100 / 120 / -20 / 190
December / 90 / 115
January / 100 / 110
February / 110 / 105
March / 120 / 110
April / 130 / 115
May / 140 / 120
June / 150 / 125
July / 140 / 130
August / 130 / 135
September / 120 / 130
October / 110 / 125
November / 100 / 120

Questions: Answer each of the following in a complete and grammatically correct sentence.

1)  In which month is the duration of insolation the longest?

2)  When does the maximum temperature occur? (HINT – See the chart above.)

3)  Do the longest duration of insolation and the maximum temperature occur in the same month? (HINT – Compare your answers to questions 1 and 2.)

4)  In which month is the duration of insolation the shortest?

5)  When does the minimum temperature occur? (HINT – See the chart on the first page of your Report Sheet.)

6)  Do the shortest duration of insolation and the minimum temperature occur in the same month? (HINT – Compare your answers to questions 4 and 5.)

7)  By looking at the lines for deposit and withdrawal on your graph, LIST the months in which the radiation absorbed by the Earth was greater than the energy emitted by the Earth?

8)  What change in surface temperature occurs when there is a surplus of energy? (HINT – See your graph. A surplus of energy occurs when the Energy Absorbed is greater than the Energy Re-radiated.)

9)  By looking at the lines for Energy Absorbed and Energy Re-radiated on your graph, LIST the months in which radiation absorbed by the Earth was less than the energy emitted by the Earth.

10) What change in surface temperature occurs when there is a deficit of energy? (HINT – See your graph. A deficit of energy occurs when the Energy Re-radiated is greater than the Energy Absorbed.)

11) Why don’t the dates of the maximum and minimum temperatures coincide with the dates of the maximum and minimum insolation?