Question

1. the radiation balance on earth is governed primarily by two main cycles of heating and cooling. (5 points)

a. what is the name of the daily cycle? (2 points)
b. what happens during this cycle? (3 points)

Explanation:

A. The daily cycle related to Earth's radiation - balance heating and cooling is the diurnal cycle. During the day, the Earth's surface absorbs solar radiation and heats up. At night, it cools by radiating heat back into space.
B. During the diurnal cycle, in the daytime, the sun shines on the Earth. The Earth's surface, oceans, and atmosphere absorb solar radiation. This causes warming. Land heats up faster than water. In the nighttime, the Earth's surface radiates infrared radiation out to space. The surface and lower - atmosphere cool down. Water cools more slowly than land.

Answer:

A. Diurnal cycle
B. During the daytime, the Earth's surface, oceans, and atmosphere absorb solar radiation causing warming (land heats faster than water). At night, the Earth's surface radiates infrared radiation out to space, leading to cooling (water cools more slowly than land).