Heating the Atmosphere

How is the planet heated?

Temp of the sun? 6000C Type of energy from the sun? SHORT WAVE RADIATION SOLAR RADIATION

Temp of the sun? 6000C Type of energy from the sun?

SHORT WAVE RADIATION SOLAR RADIATION Temp of the Earth?

15C Therefore: Long wave radiation

Is SWR received constant?

What is it dependant on?

Why not?
Taking this into consideration, does all the SWR reach the ground? 36% Reflected by outer atmosphere

3% Absorbed by ozone

Atmosphere Tropopause

97% SWR

3% Absorbed by ozone 24% Reflected

97% SWR

Atmosphere Tropopause

3% Absorbed by ozone

97% SWR

24% Reflected

Atmosphere Tropopause

14% Absorbed

6% Reflected

3% Absorbed by ozone

97% SWR

24% Reflected

Atmosphere Tropopause

14% Absorbed

6% Reflected

3% Absorbed by ozone

97% SWR

24% Reflected

Atmosphere Amosphere Tropopause

14% Absorbed

6% Reflected

47% Absorbed by surface

3% Absorbed by ozone

97% SWR

24% Reflected

Atmosphere Tropopause

14% Absorbed

6% Surface Reflection

6% Reflected

47% Absorbed by surface

www.owlnet.rice.edu/~esci107/Earth_oven.html

Conclusions p44
a) Reflection Albedo Amount of solar radiation reflected by surface compared to the amount incident. Colour (and texture) critical factor. Cu, St and Ns very good reflectors

Conclusions p44
b) Absorption Depth of which solar radiation absorbed. Water > Land Relates to specific heat capacity c) Cloud cover
SWR reflected Overall SWR absorbed by surface

8/8 cloud Large

No cloud V.Small

V.Small

V. Large

Overall change of T at surface

Small increase

Large increase

Conduction

- transfer by molecular contact

97% SWR

Atmosphere Tropopause

Air at surface heated by SWR 47% CONDUCTION Absorbed

Convection

- vertical movement of less dense air

97% SWR

Atmosphere Tropopause

Convection

Conduction

SWR 47% Absorbed

Turbulence

- mixing of air mass

97% SWR

Atmosphere Tropopause

Convection Turbulence

Conduction

SWR 47% Absorbed

Long Wave Radiation

- terrestrial radiation (24 7)

97% SWR

Atmosphere Atmsphere Tropopause

Turbulence
Re-radiation Convection

Conduction

SWR 47% Absorbed

Conclusions p46
a) Cloud cover Extensive cloud cover at low levels (St & Ns) a good absorber of IR.
8/8 Low cloud
LWR absorbed Overall LWR lost By surface V.Large

No cloud
V.Small

V.Small

V. large

Overall change of T at surface

Small decrease

Large decrease

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/GlobalMaps/view.php?d1=CERES_NETFLUX_M#

Conclusions p46
b) Greenhouse gases Water vapour & CO2 absorb infra-red at selected wavelengths & also emit IR. Known as greenhouse gases increase in concentrations global warming & climate change issues.

Summary
SWR from sun only during daylight hours. Ground heated by SWR. Tx of energy to air by
Conduction Convection Turbulence LWR

LWR emitted 24/7 No cloud cover

Straight to space

Cloud cover
Absorbed & re-emitted back & forth

Sea Breeze

Land Breeze

Solar Radiation
SWR made up of: Infra(-) red Visible light Ultra(+) violet