Chapter 2: Radiative Energy Flows

Physics concepts

1. waves
     http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/wave-on-a-string/latest/wave-on-a-string_en.html
2. electromagnetic radiation
     http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/radio-waves
3. black body radiation
     http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/blackbody-spectrum
4. Relationship between properties of radiation and temperature
   • Wien's displacement law
   • Stefan-Boltzmann law

Weather and Climate concepts

1. solar versus terrestrial radiation
2. insolation, solar irradiance, and solar constant
3. what causes variations in insolation?
4. what is the primary cause of the seasons?
5. what happens to radiation once it hits the earth's atmosphere?
   • reflection
   • transmission
   • absorption
   • emission
6. energy flow in the atmosphere
7. atmospheric window
8. albedo

Reading Guide, and useful links

• Lecture Notes (part 1)
• Lecture Notes (part 2)