06-30-2004, 01:30 PM
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#33
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Th*t Cr*zy Cr*ck*r
OVR: 7
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 662
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Re: NCAA 2005 is golden
*meteorologist on*
The angle of incidence of the sunlight entering the earth's atmosphere is the greatest influence on daytime heating. In the winter, when the earth's axis is tilted away from the sun, the angle of incidence is low, the sun does not get as "high" in the sky, and the incoming solar radiation is limited. Thusly, the sun does not have the same capacity to heat during the winter as it does during the summer, and a clear bright day can be incredibly cold.
With regards to the clouds, the percentage of radiation entering the earth's atmosphere that is reflected is known as its albedo (albedo is a general term for the percentage of radiation reflected by a body). Clouds, particularly dense, lower level stratus clouds, serve as excellent insulators and either absorb much of this albedo, or reflect is back towards the surface. Thus, while much of the sun's radiation would not make it past the clouds, the albedo emitted from the surface would also not make it past the clouds, insulating the surface and keeping temperatures warmer.
*meteorologist off*
They got it right, some of the coldest days are the sunniest ones.
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