Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere (MindTap Course List)
Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN: 9781305628458
Author: C. Donald Ahrens, Robert Henson
Publisher: Cengage Learning
Question
Book Icon
Chapter 3, Problem 1QFR
To determine

The reason why the warmest time of the day to be in the afternoon, even though the sun’s rays are most direct at noon.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1QFR

The warmest time of the day is usually in the afternoon, even though the sun’s rays are most direct at noon because the rays of the sun are most intense in nature during the afternoon.

Explanation of Solution

In the afternoon, the intensity of the solar radiation decreases. Due to this, the amount of outgoing heat energy from the Earth surface increases for a time. This situation creates a yield in energy surplus for three to four hours in the afternoon and contributes to a lag between the time of maximum solar heating and the time of maximum temperature. There is a surplus of incoming solar radiation versus outgoing infrared radiation until the late afternoon.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science ...
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134041360
Author:Greg Carbone
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science
Earth Science
ISBN:9781260153125
Author:William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham Professor
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
Text book image
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134543536
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Earth Science
ISBN:9781337569613
Author:G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Physical Geology
Earth Science
ISBN:9781259916823
Author:Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, Lisa
Publisher:Mcgraw-hill Education,