The underlying surface and its influence on the climate

We often notice the beauty of nature, but rarely think about how it is arranged, and what is important is what we have under our feet. It turns out that the sparkling snow we play in winter and the soil on which the grass grows, and the dense forests and sand on the shores of the raging sea (and the sea itself) are called one term - "underlying surface".

What is covered by our planet

The active, or underlying, surface is the uppermost layer of the earth's crust, which includes all types of water bodies, glaciers and soil that participate in various natural processes.

How does what we have under our feet can affect the climate? First of all, through the absorption or reflection of the sun's rays. In addition, the influence of the underlying surface on the climate is realized through water and gas exchange, as well as biochemical processes. For example, water is slower than the soil, it heats up and cools, which makes the coastal areas have a milder climate than those that are far from the seas and oceans.

Reflection of light

The temperature on our planet depends on the sun. But, as is known, different surfaces absorb and reflect the sun's rays in different ways , this is the basis for the influence of the underlying surface on the climate. The fact is that air itself has very low thermal conductivity, because of this, it is colder in the atmosphere than at the surface: below, the air warms up precisely from the heat absorbed by water or soil.

Snow reflects up to 80% of radiation, so in September, when such precipitation is not yet, it is warmer than in March, although the amount of solar radiation in these months is the same. Well-known female summer, we are also obliged to the underlying surface: the soil heated in summer gradually releases solar energy in the autumn, adding heat to it from the decaying green mass.

The island climate

Everyone likes the mild climate without sharp winter and summer temperature changes. This is provided to us by the seas and oceans. The water mass is heated slowly, but at the same time it is capable of storing up to 4 times more heat than the soil. Thus, the water underlying surface accumulates a large amount of energy during the summer, and in winter it gives it away, heating the coastal areas.

The famous sea breeze is also a merit of the watery surface. In the afternoon the shore is warmed up more, hot air expands and "sucks" the colder on the side of the reservoir, forming a gentle breeze from the water. At night, on the contrary, the earth quickly cools, cold air masses move towards the sea, so the breeze changes its direction twice a day.

Relief

Great importance on the climate and has a terrain. If the underlying surface is flat, it does not interfere with the movement of air. But in places where there are elevations or, conversely, lowlands, special conditions are created. For example, if the reservoir is located in a depression below the main relief, evaporation and heat from water do not dissipate, but accumulate in this area, creating a special microclimate.

Many people heard about the land of Sannikov in the Arctic Ocean. There is a theory that there really could exist an island with a tropical climate: if the land area is completely surrounded by high glaciers, then the air circulation will decrease, the heat will not "erode", and the glacier, reflecting the sun's rays, will begin to accumulate them on this island.

Even today, we can observe on some northern islands vegetation, uncharacteristic for those latitudes. This is due precisely to the features of the underlying surface: rocks and forests are protected from winds, and the surrounding sea smoothes out the temperature drops.

Greenhouse effect

We often hear that because of industry the number of greenhouse gases is increasing , and the forest produces a lot of oxygen. In reality, this is not quite so: it is necessary to take into account the factors underlying the surface. The dead plants and fallen leaves become food for a huge number of microorganisms, insects and worms. All these vital processes occur with the release of a large amount of greenhouse gases and the absorption of oxygen. So, part of the carbon dioxide that the plants received from the air, again returns to the atmosphere.

In general, the balance of substances remains approximately constant due to the growth of green mass, that is, it is incorrect to think that the forest is such an oxygen production plant for the city. In tropical forests, it is even more difficult to breathe than in megacities, because of the high humidity of the underlying surface and the active vital activity in it. Of course, industry has an impact on the climate, but not only directly, but also through the destruction of the ecosystem. Deforestation and contamination of soil and water lead to the fact that the new green mass is growing less and more, and the decaying becomes more and more poisonous substances, which were previously bound by plants, enter the atmosphere. Thus, the underlying surface turns the forest from the "light planet" into the source of those greenhouse gases.