19 - Climate change fundamentals

Question 1

how old is the sun

Answer 1

5 billion years

Question 2

how hot is the suns surface

Answer 2

~5800 K

Question 3

what radiation comes from the sun and why

Answer 3

incoming short wave radiation (ISWR) (8 mins to reach earth) because of the high radiation temperature

Question 4

what is the value of the solar constant

Answer 4

~1365 Wm-2

Question 5

what is the solar constant in relation to earth

Answer 5

the solar radiation that reaches earths Top Of Atmosphere (TOA)

Question 6

what is the global mean ISWR received at the Top Of Atmosphere

Answer 6

~1354/4 = 341 Wm-2

Question 7

what emits electromagnetic energy

Answer 7

any object above absolute zero (0 K, -273 degC)

Question 8

what wave length does solar radiation fall under

Answer 8

visible light wavelength (also extends to UV and infrared)

Question 9

what radiation does earth radiate

Answer 9

infrared radiation

Question 10

what causes the earths seasons

Answer 10

the tilt of the earths axis, making some areas further from the sun than others at different times

Question 11

is radiation leaving earth short or long wave

Answer 11

long wave

Question 12

is radiation leaving the sun short or long wave

Answer 12

short wave

Question 13

how much ISWR from the sun is reflected back into space

Answer 13

30%

Question 14

what number is earths albedo

Answer 14

0.3

Question 15

what is ISWR

Answer 15

incoming short wave radiation

Question 16

what radiation comes from the earth and why

Answer 16

Outgoing Long Wave Radiation (OLWR) because its cooler

Question 17

how much of OLWR makes it to space

Answer 17

60%

Question 18

what’s the greenhouse effect caused by

Answer 18

atmospheric transmissivity of 0.6