| A | B |
|---|
| Absorption | Energy that is converted to heat, raising the temperature of the object. |
| Advection | The horizontal component of convection flow. |
| Albedo | The fraction of light that is reflected by a surface. |
| Altitude | The angle of the sun above the horizon. |
| Aphelion | The point in the Earths revolution when it is furthest from the sun. |
| Atmospheric Window | The range of wavelengths that is not absorbed and passes into space. |
| Autumn Equinox | Time of year where the sun strikes the equator at 90. |
| Blackbody | Prefect emitter and absorber of electromagnetic radiation. |
| Circle of Illumination | The line that separates the light half of the Earth from the dark half. |
| Conduction | Heat transfer from molecule to molecule in direct contact. |
| Conservation of Energy | The total incident radiation has to equal the amount reflected, the amount absorbed, and the amount transmitted. |
| Convection | Heat transfer by mass motion of a fluid medium. |
| Diffused Light | Radiation from all directions. |
| Greenhouse Effect | Analogy used to explain how the Earth is keeping it warm. |
| Heat Budget | The annual balance of incoming and outgoing solar radiation. |
| Heat | The total kinetic energy of all the atoms. |
| Inclination of the Axis | The angle that the Earth is tilted 23.5. |
| Angle of Incidence | The angle the light from the sun strikes the Earth at a given latitude. |
| Infrared | Light that can not be seen but detected as heat. |
| Perihelion | The point in the Earths revolution when it is closest to the sun. |
| Radiation or Electromagnetic Radiation | Wave like energy that contains heat. |
| Revolution | The movement of the Earth around the sun. |
| Rotation | The spinning of the Earth about its axis. |
| Spring Equinox | Time of year where the sun strikes the equator at 90. |
| Summer Solstice | The official first day of summer. Light strikes the Topic of Cancer at 90. |
| Temperature | The average kinetic energy of all the atoms. |
| Tropic of Cancer | Latitude of 23.5 degree N where the sun’s angle is 90 in June. |
| Tropic of Capricorn | Latitude of 23.5 degree S where the sun’s angle is 90 in December. |
| Ultraviolet | Harmful rays that we can not see. |
| Visible Light | The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can see. |
| Winter Solstice | The official first day of winter. Light strikes the Topic of Capricorn at 90. |
