Introduction - The Global Climate System: Patterns, Processes, and Teleconnections - page 3

Figure 1.2 Wavelength
characteristics of solar and
terrestrial radiation. Note
the difference between
extraterrestrial solar
radiation and that incident
at the Earth's surface
indicating atmospheric
absorption of both short-
wave ultraviolet and infrared
radiant energy. Earth emits
energy largely in the infrared
portion of the spectrum.
(After Sellers 1965 )
The climate at any location is ultimately related to net radiation (Q*) and is a
function of a number of interacting variables. First, incoming solar radiation
varies with latitude, being greatest at the equator and least at the poles. Hence,
climate varies with latitude. Second, energy transformations at the surface
are completely different over ice, water, and land, while also varying with
topography, land use, and land cover. Climates will thus vary between such
surfaces. The variation associated with such surfaces is seen in the heat budget
equation.
The heat budget explains the relative partitioning between sensible heat and
latent heat transfers in a given environment. In a moist environment a large part
of available energy is used for evaporation with less available for sensible heat.