These Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature Class 11 Geography Notes explain the heating of the atmosphere, insolation, terrestrial radiation, heat budget, temperature distribution and inversion of temperature. The chapter discusses solar radiation, conduction, convection, advection, heat balance, isotherms and factors controlling global temperature distribution.
These NCERT notes are useful for UPSC, SSC, Railways, State PSC, CUET and CBSE Board Exams. The chapter is important for understanding the Earth’s energy system, atmospheric heating and global climatic variations responsible for weather and temperature distribution.
This chapter explains solar radiation, atmospheric heating, heat balance and global temperature distribution. It highlights how solar energy controls atmospheric temperature, climate and weather systems across the world.
Solar radiation is the energy received from the Sun. Earth receives most solar energy in short wavelengths.
Insolation means incoming solar radiation received by Earth.
Atmosphere is mostly transparent to short wave radiation.
Earth radiates heat in long wave form.
Atmosphere is heated indirectly from Earth’s surface.
Heat budget is the balance between incoming and outgoing heat.
Albedo is the reflected amount of radiation.
Temperature is the measurement of hotness or coldness.
Isotherms are lines joining places of equal temperature.
Temperature inversion is the reversal of normal lapse rate.
Specific heat is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram substance by 1°C.
Insolation is the incoming solar radiation received by Earth.
Albedo is the reflected amount of solar radiation.
Heat radiated by Earth in long wave form is called terrestrial radiation.
Normal lapse rate is the decrease in temperature with height at 6.5°C per 1000 m.
Temperature inversion is the reversal of normal lapse rate where temperature increases with height.