Global climatic factors

Climate and tropical climate Solar radiation : quality Solar radiation : quantity

Climate and tropical climate:

Definition : Region with certain conditions of temperature , dryness , wind, light etc. Scientific definition: An integration in time of the physical states of atmospheric , characteristic of certain geological location. The integration in time of weather conditions

Tropical climate:
Heat is the dominate problem Grater part of the year buildings serve to keep the occupants cool, rather than warm

Factors shaping the climate: Solar radiation:

The earth receives almost all its energy from the sun in the form of radiation ,thus the sun is dominating influence on climates. The spectrum of solar radiation extends from 290 to 2300 nm (nanometer = 10-9 m) Ultra violet radiation , 290 to 380 nm ,producing photo chemical effects , bleaching, sunburn etc Visible light,380 nm (violet) to 70 nm (red) Short infra red radiation ,700 to 2300 nm ,radiant hest with some photo chemical effects.

The spectral energy distribution varies with altitude, due to the filtering effect of the atmosphere. Solar radiation : quantity The intensity of radiation reaching the upper surface of the atmosphere is taken as solar constant. Earth moves around the sun in a slightly elliptical orbit. One revolution is completed in 365 days , 5 hours , 48 minutes and 46 seconds. The

Radiation at earth surface: