L8: The Atmosphere
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what are the components of the Earth’s radiation budget?
energy entering, reflected, absorbed and emitted by the Earth system
what is incoming radiation?
solar radiation
what is outgoing radiation?
partly reflected solar radiation and partly radiation emitted from the Earth system
what can happen if the radiation budget goes out of balance?
the temperature of the atmosphere may increase or decrease, eventually affecting our climate
what are the units for the radiation budget?
W/m^2
what is a watt equivalent to?
one joule per second
what type of radiation is incoming solar energy?
short wave
what is another term for short wave radiation?
insolation
what happens to incoming solar radiation?
some is reflected by: atmosphere, clouds and earths surface some is absorbed by: atmosphere, clouds, land and oceans
what happens to the solar radiation that is absorbed?
it is re radiated as long wave radiation
what percentage of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the land and oceans?
51%
what happens to the long wave radiation?
radiated to space from clouds and atmosphere, absorbed by the atmosphere and radiated directly to space from earth
what is the solar constant?
figure used when computing the radiation budget (1368 kWm^-2)
what is the equilibrium temperature WITHOUT atmosphere?
-18 degrees - -30 degrees
how many kWm^-2 of solar radiation is received at the top of the atmosphere? (solar constant)
1368
what is another term for the re radiated long wave radiation?
long wave counter radiation
what is the role of ozone?
intercepts/shields the Earth from harmful UV emitted from the sun
what does H20 vapour act as in our atmosphere?
a GHG
what is the GHE?
role CO2 plays in intercepting outgoing long wave radiation
what does CO2 in our atmosphere intercept?
longwave outgoing radiation
what are the most important GHGs molecule for molecule? (in decreasing order)
nitrous oxide CH4 CO2
what GHGs are in our atmosphere?
CO2, CH4, nitrous oxide and H2O vapour
why is CO2 the most important GHG?
because it has the highest atmospheric concentration
do gases absorb radiation all at the same wavelengths?
no