8.3 The Sun Powers Earth`s Climate System Homework - Thursday 09/06/12 pg. 329 #1-6

1. Explain how the ocean interacts with the Sun’s radiation.
The ocean interacts with the Sun’s radiation by reflecting and absorbing the Sun’s radiation. I think the ocean absorbs the radiation because depending on the season the area by the mass of water is about 1°C or 2°C difference in temperature proving the ocean does absorb the Sun’s radiation. Although it absorbs heat I also thing the ocean has a medium albedo. The ocean is light coloured/clear, and is a different form of ice which has the highest albedo. Therefore the ocean interacts with the Sun’s radiation by reflecting and absorbing the heat energy.

2. The amount of energy Earth absorbs is equal to the amount of energy it radiates. Why is this important? Explain your answer.
It’s important that the amount of energy Earth absorbs is equal to the amount of energy it radiates because on Earth we need to keep the temperature at a sustainable temperature, meaning the Earth can’t be too hot or too cold. For there to be a sustainable environment the Earth needs to maintain a healthy temperature for human life, and other life. By equally absorbing and reflecting the radiation from the Sun Earth is able to support life, this is very important.

3. The Sun shines continuously on Earth. Explain why Earth does not keep warming up.
Even though the Sun shines continuously on Earth, the Earth doesn’t keep warming up because 51% of the energy is absorbed by land and oceans whereas the other 49% is reflected back into the atmosphere. 6% of the Sun’s radiation is reflected by the atmosphere, 20% of the Sun’s radiation is reflected by the clouds, 4% of the Sun’s radiation is reflected by the Earth’s surface, and 19% of the Sun’s radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds. Also because the Sun doesn’t