Author Question: What is latent heat and why is it such an important factor in the transfer of energy from the ... (Read 62 times)

burton19126 · **on:** Jul 14, 2018

What is latent heat and why is it such an important factor in the transfer of energy from the surface to the atmosphere?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

If the earth did not have greenhouse gases, its temperature would be ________ than it is now.

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Mollythedog · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 14, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Latent heat is the energy required to change the phase of a substance (water). On a global average basis, the amount of energy transferred to the atmosphere as latent heat amounts to 24 units, which makes latent heat considerably more important as a mode of heat transfer than sensible heat (5 units).

Answer to Question 2

Answer: lower