Temperature in the Earth’s Atmosphere

Heat is produced when insolation interacts with the atmosphere and the earth’s surface, and it is quantified in terms of temperature. Temperature is a measurement of how hot (or cold) something (or a place) is in degrees. Temperature is a measurement of how hot (or cold) something (or a place) is in degrees. While heat represents the molecular movement of particles that make up a substance, temperature is the measurement in degrees of how hot (or cold) a thing (or a place) is. Both horizontally and vertically, temperature dispersion varies.

Distribution of Temperature in the Earth’s Atmosphere

Distribution of temperature varies both horizontally and vertically

A) Horizontal Distribution of Temperature

B) Vertical Distribution of Temperature

Horizontal Distribution of Temperature

The horizontal distribution refers to the distribution of temperature across latitudes on the earth’s surface.

On maps, isotherms are frequently used to show the horizontal distribution of temperature.

Isotherms are locations on a line where the temperature is the same.

When looking at an isotherm map, we can see that the horizontal temperature distribution is uneven.

Vertical Distribution of Temperature

We’ve already shown that as height rises, the temperature in the troposphere falls.

The standard atmosphere, also known as the Normal Lapse Rate, is a vertical temperature gradient.

This normal lapse rate, however, varies depending on height, season, latitude, and other factors.

The true lapse rate of temperature does not always decrease as altitude increases.

The factors affecting distribution of temperature are

1. LATITUDE

From the equator to the poles, the angle of incidence of the sun’s beams decreases.

As the angle of incidence increases, the temperature rises.In the same way, the lower the angle of incidence, the lower the temperature.

As a result, temperatures in the tropics are higher while in the poles are lower.

2. ALTITUDE

When we all know, as we climb higher in the atmosphere, the temperature in the troposphere drops.

Normal Lapse Rate is the rate at which temperature drops by about 6 degrees Celsius per 1000 metres of height.

3. LAND AND SEA CONTRAST

The sea heats up and cools down slowly in comparison to land. The land rapidly warms and cools.

As a result, land temperatures are higher during the day, while ocean temperatures are higher at night.

The sea and land winds also help to keep the temperature down by cooling down places near the water.

Seasonal changes in land and marine temperatures also exist. The temperature of the air above land is higher than that of the oceans throughout the summer.In the winter, however, the air over the oceans reaches a higher temperature than the landmass.

Despite the stark contrast between land and water surfaces, there are variances in the rate at which different land surfaces heat up. Because of the high amount of solar radiation reflected, a snow-covered land, such as that seen in polar regions, warms slowly. Because a large quantity of insolation is consumed in evaporating water from the plants, a place covered in vegetation does not become overheated.

4. OCEAN CURRENTS

Ocean currents are divided into two types: warm and cold.

Warm currents raise the temperature of the coasts they pass through, while cold currents lower the temperature of the coasts they pass through.

Despite being at a lower latitude than the North-Western European Coasts, the Quebec on Canada’s coast freezes in the winter due to the effect of North Atlantic Drift (a warm current), whereas the Quebec on Canada’s coast is frozen due to the Cold Labrador Current flowing along it.

Temperature and Heat

• Temperature refers to a substance’s proportional degree of heat.

• Heat is the energy that causes things or substances to become hot, whereas temperature is the measurement of heat intensity.

• Heat is the total kinetic energy of all atoms in a substance (energy). The amount of heat generated is related to the number of atoms in the system.

• The average kinetic energy of the atoms in a substance is represented by temperature. A few fast-moving atoms will have a greater temperature than many slow-moving ones.

• Despite their differences, heat and temperature are inextricably linked since heat gain or loss is required to raise or lower the temperature.

• The temperature difference between two bodies determines the transfer of heat.

• Heat is always transferred from a hotter body to a cooler one.

• In the study of physical sciences, it is primarily measured in the kelvin (K) unit.

• As a result, in everyday use, temperature is most usually measured in Celsius (C), Fahrenheit (F), or Kelvin (K). Temperatures are expressed in degrees Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin (°C, °F, and °K).

Conclusion 

Plants and animals’ development and reproduction are influenced by air temperature, with warmer temperatures favouring biological growth. Almost every other meteorological characteristic is influenced by air temperature.

The composition of a planet’s atmosphere, particularly the proportion of greenhouse gases present, has an impact on its temperature. The Earth turns visible solar radiation into infrared radiation, which it then emits; greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation and so warm the atmosphere.