The Effect Of Temperature On The Earth Surface Energy Budget

1. Introduction In 1762, Scottish chemist Joseph Black first introduced the term ‘Latent Heat’. He defined this term as the quantity of heat absorbed or released by a substance undergoing a change of state at a constant temperature and pressure [2]. Black, used the term latent heat in the context of calorimetry [3] when he observed a change in volume of a thermodynamic system whilst it was held at a constant temperature. Two more common forms of enthalpies are latent heat of fusion (solid to liquid) and latent of vaporization (liquid to vapour). Both of these changes are endothermic as they absorb energy whilst changing state, which is important in the science of Meteorology. Meteorology studies the processes of transpiration, evaporation†¦show more content†¦This is because when heat is added to a system whilst changing state there is no change in temperature. Specific heat capacity is an important value for many reasons; substances with a small specific heat capacity are useful for tools used in cooking such as pans and kettles because their temperature needs to be raised quickly whereas substances that have a large specific heat are more suitable for insulation as an absorption of heat will cause a smaller change in temperature. 2. Theory 2.1 Latent Heat Latent heat derives from the amount of work required to overcome the forces that hold together the atoms or molecules in a substance. Attractive forces maintain the crystalline lattice of a solid and each atom oscillates to and from its average centre of mass position. As the temperature of this structure increases the oscillations become progressively more violent until the melting point is reached and the attractive forces holding the lattice together are no longer sufficient enough to maintain the crystalline structure’s stability. Further heat (latent heat of fusion) must be added for the substance to complete a full change of state. Once enough heat is added to the system the substance will melt and become liquid which results in the atoms and molecules to no longer maintain a structured crystal lattice but instead are free to move. Forces of