I've just been wondering how it all works. Does it have something to do with the molecules in the air speeding up or slowing down? I think that it's the suns distance that has an effect on it, but what does it have an effect on exactly?
2006-12-18 14:11:58 · 7 answers · asked by The best Me there is!!! 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
I want to know HOW the sun changes the temperature. Is it simply the distance?
2006-12-18 14:16:29 · update #1
It is the heat from the Sun that changes the temperature of the air. Radiant heat from the Sun strikes the Earth surface, surface gets warm, the air molecules that are nearby touch it and get some of that energy. The layer of molecules that are close to the Earth surface get more energetic. The warm air then escapes upward.
Sometimes you get an effect from the clowds not letting all the warm air escape upward and acting like a blanket.
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Yes it is pretty much the distance, the difference arises from the angle that earth's axis constitutes with its orbit.
2006-12-18 14:14:05 · answer #1 · answered by Snowflake 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does have to do with the speed of the molecules, since that is what heat is, the kinetic energy (mostly dependent on speed in the case of gases and dependent on how fast atoms are vibrating in the case of a solid).
Distance from the sun is not the main reason for temperature differences on Earth. Distance only makes a difference as it pertains to absorption of radiation. As such the main reason is how much of the sun's radiation a particular portion of the Earth receives. The sun's rays are more direct on toward the equator, no matter what time of year it is, and that's why it is warm there. Seasons occur on Earth because of the tilt on the axis of rotation causing the sun's rays to become most direct on the northern hemisphere during the summer solstice in June and most direct in the southern hemisphere in December on the winter solstice. This is also why the poles of the earth are so cold, they receive the least amount of solar radiation of any place on the planet.
How hot a place gets and how well it holds onto the heat is also dependent a great deal on water in the air (clouds, humidity, etc.)and the proximity to an ocean and the temperature of the ocean in that region. There are a lot more things that go into it but all have to with essentially tranferring heat energy that the sun put into the Earth. I hope that answered the question.
Go ahead and check out Wikipedia for a little more information (link in the sources)
2006-12-19 00:23:26 · answer #2 · answered by Angry Marsupial 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many factors contribute to the air temperature. It does have to do with the speed of the air molecules. Also energy from the sun and ground temperature. For example, a warm air mass that crosses over a snow covered area will be cooler than warm air that passes over grass covered ground.
2006-12-18 22:15:38 · answer #3 · answered by Peanut Butter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the heat from the sun makes the air warm and the evaporation of water makes rainy cloud and thus the air cold.
2006-12-18 22:18:57 · answer #4 · answered by candy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ice caps makes the air cold and suns ray makes the air warm, also global warming is making the earth warm nowdays.
2006-12-18 22:13:29 · answer #5 · answered by Djc 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun amd how close we are to it
2006-12-18 22:13:27 · answer #6 · answered by Jon C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mainly the jet stream.
2006-12-18 22:13:23 · answer #7 · answered by sidekick 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋