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Last Updated on Jun 21, 2024

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The heating and cooling of the atmosphere occurs through various processes. The Earth’s surface is heated by the isolation process which further leads to transmission of heat to the different atmospheric layers near the Earth in long wave form. The air which is closer to the Earth surface gets heated first and gradually heat is transferred to the upper layers also. This whole process of transfer of heat is called conduction. This process takes place when two bodies of uneven temperature are in contact with one another. There is a flow of energy from the warmer to the cooler body. This transfer of temperature continues until both bodies attain equilibrium in the temperature, i.e., both the bodies attain similar temperatures or the contact is broken.

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In this article on Heating and Cooling of the Atmosphere UPSC, we will learn about the complete process of Heating and Cooling of the Atmosphere in detail.

Heating and Cooling of the Atmosphere UPSC NCERT Notes: Download PDF Here!

Process of Heating and Cooling of the Atmosphere
The process of cooling and heating of atmosphere occurs in various processes:

Partial absorption of solar radiation by the atmosphere

Conduction

Terrestrial radiation

Convection and advection

Latent heat of condensation

Expansion and compression of the air

Partial Absorption of Solar Radiation

Heating of the atmosphere does not occur directly by the Sun’s rays passing through it. 10% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by dust particles and water vapour and 50% of this absorption is done by lower 2 km of air where most of the water vapour is found. This process is not considered very effective in raising the surface-air temperature.
Because of this reason, even on a clear sunny day, the temperature near the surface remains low.
In winter the short-wave incoming solar radiation is converted into long-wave terrestrial energy and because of this reason in winter people enjoy the warmth of sunshine.

Know more about Conservation of Biodiversity here.

Conduction

In the conduction process there occurs flow or transfer of heat energy from the warmer object to the cooler object, when two objects of unequal temperature come in contact.
This heat flow process continues till the temperature of both the objects becomes equal or the contact is broken.
This conduction process occurs where there is a zone of contact between the atmosphere and the earth’s surface.
This method of heating only affects the air close to the earth’s surface.

Learn more about Carbon Cycle!

Terrestrial Radiation

When Earth’s surface receives insolation in the form of short waves and heats up its surface and after this process of heating Earth itself becomes a radiating body. It leads to radiation of energy to the atmosphere in the form of long waves and further this energy heats the atmosphere from below. This whole process is called terrestrial radiation.
Atmospheric gases mainly Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gases absorb long wave radiation. And because of this the atmosphere itself gets heated up.
Further atmosphere transfers this heat to space and at last the amount of heat received from the sun is returned to space. This whole process maintains constant temperature at the earth’s surface and in the atmosphere.

Convection and Advection

The atmosphere is known to be a gaseous medium and convection is known to be the most suitable method of heat transferring. In the process when heat is gained by the layers of air at or near the earth’s surface from radiation or conduction is usually transferred to the upper atmospheric layers by the process of convection.
Convection process redistributes heat from equatorial regions to the poles and from the surface upward.

Transfer of heat occurs in two form in convection process:

The heat content which is transferred directly by the rising and mixing of heated air, is called sensible heat content.
Heat which is indirectly transferred by convection is called latent heat.

When there is a vertical motion in the atmosphere, the term advection is reserved for horizontal convection transport of heat which is called convection. Horizontal convection is seen on a larger scale than vertical convection.
Advection process is responsible for slow heat transfer from the equatorial to the Polar Regions.

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Latent Heat of Condensation

The atmosphere receives a large percentage of its total heat energy from the long-wave terrestrial radiation, conduction and convection. Along with them in the heating and cooling process of the atmosphere the latent heat of evaporation as well as the latent heat of condensation also plays a very crucial role.
The latent heat of condensation is seen in the different layers of the atmosphere by the process of evaporation taking place at the surfaces of oceans, humid ground, and natural vegetation.
Most important source of latent heat of evaporation is oceans with their extensive water surfaces as they have maximum exposure to the sun.
Further this solar energy is stored in the air in potential form. And during the condensation of water vapour, there is release of latent energy into the atmosphere and used in heating it. This released energy is known as the latent heat of condensation.

Expansion and Compression of Air

During the upward movement of air it passes through regions of successively lower pressure. So, with rising air they keep on expanding and further cools down adiabatically. In the similar way, during descending movement of air, it comes under increasingly higher pressures so that it compresses and is heated.
This change in temperature is caused by a change in pressure alone that the rising or falling air is subjected to are called adiabatic temperature changes.

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Heating and Cooling of the Atmosphere UPSC FAQs

What does heating and cooling of the atmosphere generate?

Heating and cooling of the atmosphere generate weather patterns, air circulation, and atmospheric disturbances.

How is Earth's atmosphere heated and cooled?

Earth's atmosphere is heated primarily by solar radiation and cooled through processes such as radiation, conduction, and convection.

What is the process of heating and cooling called?

The process of heating and cooling is called thermoregulation.

What is heating and cooling in a short note?

Heating and cooling refer to the transfer of thermal energy, resulting inchanges in temperature within a system or substance.

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