What is the difference between insolation and terrestrial radiation?

Question: What is the difference between insolation and terrestrial radiation?

In this blog post, I will explain the difference between insolation and terrestrial radiation, two important concepts in physical geography. Insolation is the amount of solar energy or radiation received by the earth in the form of short wave radiation. Terrestrial radiation is the heat radiated by the earth in the form of long waves. It is a 24 hours process.

Insolation depends on several factors, such as latitude, season, time of the day, cloud cover, and surface characteristics. The higher the latitude, the lower the insolation. The summer season receives more insolation than the winter season. The noon time receives more insolation than the morning or evening time. Clouds reflect some of the incoming solar radiation back to space, reducing the insolation. Surfaces that are light-colored, smooth, or covered with snow or ice reflect more insolation than surfaces that are dark-colored, rough, or covered with vegetation.

Terrestrial radiation depends on the temperature and emissivity of the earth's surface and atmosphere. The higher the temperature, the more terrestrial radiation is emitted. The emissivity is a measure of how well a body radiates heat compared to a perfect black body. A black body has an emissivity of 1, meaning it emits all the heat it absorbs. A white body has an emissivity of 0, meaning it emits none of the heat it absorbs. The earth's surface has an average emissivity of 0.96, meaning it emits most of the heat it absorbs from insolation. The atmosphere has an average emissivity of 0.8, meaning it emits less heat than it absorbs from both insolation and terrestrial radiation.

The balance between incoming insolation and outgoing terrestrial radiation is called the heat budget of the earth. This balance determines the average temperature of the earth and its climate zones. If the incoming heat and the outgoing heat are not balanced, then Earth would be getting either gradually warmer or cooler.

To summarize, insolation is the solar energy that reaches the earth's surface, while terrestrial radiation is the heat that leaves the earth's surface and atmosphere. Both processes affect the temperature and climate of the earth.

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