Geology
Sketching Assignment – Global temperatures, Solar Radiation, Insolation and Albedo
1
All answers must in red or underlined if you plan on using the Word file.
A. Insolation
Figure 2 demonstrates how insolation varies with latitude on the Earth. Each shaded box, A, B, and C
represents a beam of solar radiation impinging on the Earth at different latitudes. Each beam on Figure
2 is 1.0 cm wide.
1. For each latitude, draw a chord connecting where the upper part of the beam intersects the Earth’s
surface to where the lower part intersects the Earth’s surface. For clarity, it is best if you can do this
in a color other than black. Using a cm scale, measure the length of each chord. For example, the
chord length of beam A should be 1.0 cm. Enter your measurements in the table above.
The acute angle between the beam and the Earth’s surface is known as the angle of incidence.
2. Using a protractor, measure the angle of incidence between the chord and the centerline of each
beam. For example, at the Equator (Beam A, latitude 0°), the angle of incidence is 90° whereas at
the poles (latitude 90°), the angle of incidence is 0°. Enter your measurements in the table above.
The relative intensity is a measure of the amount of insolation that is available at a given latitude
relative to that at the Equator. The larger the area upon which the beam is spread out, the lower the
A
B
C
60° N
30° N
0°
S
U
N
Figure 2. Angle of incidence and relative insolation at 0°, 30°, and 60°
latitudes.
Beam Latitude Angle of
incidence
Beam
width
(cm)
Chord
Length
(cm)
Relative intensity
(%)
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ
𝐶𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑤𝑤 𝑙𝑙𝐵𝐵𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑤𝑤ℎ × 100
A 0° 90° 1.0 1.0 100%
B 30° 1.0
C 60° 1.0
Sketching Assignment – Global temperatures, Solar Radiation, Insolation and Albedo
2
intensity. The relative intensity is always less than or equal to 1 and is calculated from the following
equation,
𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵𝑙𝑙𝐵𝐵𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵 𝐼𝐼𝑛𝑛𝑤𝑤𝐵𝐵𝑛𝑛𝐼𝐼𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝐼𝐼 (%) = 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ
𝐶𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑤𝑤 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ × 100
For example, at the Equator (Beam A), the chord is perpendicular to the beam and the same width (= 1.0
cm), so that the relative intensity of insolation at the equator is 100%.
3. Calculate the relative intensity for each beam and enter the results in the table.
4. Based on your results, how do the angle of incidence and relative insolation relate to latitude?
5. How do your conclusions in this theoretical experiment help explain your observations in the
ApprenNet assignment?
6. Figure 2 compares the change in insolation on the December solstice (December 22 nd
), June Solstice
(June 21 st ) and the Equinoxes (March 21 st and September 23 rd
). At each of these times, indicate
which region receives the greatest amount of insolation (circle one)
a. December solstice: Northern Hemisphere / Equator / Southern Hemisphere
b. Equinox: Northern Hemisphere / Equator / Southern Hemisphere
c. June solstice: Northern Hemisphere / Equator / Southern Hemisphere
Sketching Assignment – Global temperatures, Solar Radiation, Insolation and Albedo
3
Figure 1. Comparison of the variations in insolation on the Earth during the changes in the seasons. From, Reynolds, S and J.
Johnson, Exploring Earth Science. McGraw Hill, 2016
7. The seasons also effect the length of day (the time between sunrise and sunset). Based on your
observations of Figure 2, indicate when each region has the longest day (circle 1)
a. Northern Hemisphere: December Solstice / The Equinoxes / June Solstice
b. Equatorial Region: December Solstice / The Equinoxes / June Solstice
c. Southern Hemisphere: December Solstice / The Equinoxes / June Solstice
B. Albedo
Place equal amounts of black sand and white sand into the beakers provided. Place thermometers in the
sand of each so that the bulb is about ¾ inch beneath the surface of the sand. Place the two beakers at
the equal distance away from the lamp provided (lamp should be off). Note the temperature in both
sets of sand and enter in the table
Switch on the lamp and then note the temperature in each beaker every minute (use the stop watch
function on your cell phone) and enter the temperature into the table. After 10 minutes switch off the
lamp. Plot the temperature vs. time on the chart provided. Use a different colors to represent the black
and white sands.
See the file named “Albedo Sand Results” in the assignment dropbox for the temperature values.
Table 1. Temperature Data for Albedo Experiment
Starting
Temp
(°C)
1
min
(°C)
2
min
(°C)
3
min
(°C)
4
min
(°C)
5
min
(°C)
6
min
(°C)
7
min
(°C)
8
min
(°C)
9
min
(°C)
10
min
(°C)
Black
Sand
White
Sand
Sketching Assignment – Global temperatures, Solar Radiation, Insolation and Albedo
4
8. Calculate the rate of heating for each sand (= change in temperature/time light was on).
Black Sand: ________________ White Sand: _________________
9. Explain the result of the albedo experiment.
a. Which has the greater albedo – the white sand or the black sand?
b. Give examples of albedo on the Earth’s surface, one with high albedo, one with low albedo.
High: _________________ Low: _____________________
c. Here in South Florida, is it better to have a light colored roof or a dark colored roof? Explain
your answer.
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Temperature (°C)
Time (min)
Sketching Assignment – Global temperatures, Solar Radiation, Insolation and Albedo
5
C Experiment to illustrate differential heating of land and water
Fill one of the two beakers provided three-quarters full with room temperature water and the other
three quarters full of dry, white sand. Suspend a thermometer in each beaker so that the top of each
bulb is just below the surface (do this with masking tape – your Teaching Assistant will show you how).
Suspend the light over the two beakers so they are equal distances form the light.
Record the starting temperature in each beaker in the table. Turn on the light and record the
temperature in each beaker every minute for 10 minutes. Record the temperatures in the table
provided.
See the file named “Differential Heating Results” in the assignment dropbox for the temperature
values.
Start
temp
1 min 2 min 3 min 4 min 5 min 6 min 7 min 8 min 9 min 10 m
Water
Sand
10. How does the temperature of dry sand and water differ when they are exposed to radiation from
the lamp?
11. Suggest a reason why the sand and the water may heat differently?
12. What does this experiment tell you about the observations made in the ApprenNet assignment?
