Chapter 4 Flashcards
What is albedo?
reflectivity of a planet
What is earth losing energy equal to?
rate at which it is receiving energy from the sun
What is the atmosphere opaque to?
infrared photons and all of them are absorbed by the atmosphere
What direction are photons emitted by the atmosphere?
upward direction to space and carry energy away from earth
What happens to photons emitted downwards?
they are absorbed by the surface
Are photons emitted by the atmosphere visible?
no, but they still carry energy
What is the greenhouse effect?
heating of the surface by the atmosphere
What is the surface temp determined by?
layers in atmosphere
solar constant
albedo
What do greenhouse gases absorb?
infrared photons
What is the number of layers equivalent to?
amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
What happens when there is an increase in greenhouse gases?
increase in number of layers and warming climate
What is the temp of our climate set by?
requirement that energy in and energy out balance
Does the climate produce energy balance for earth?
yes
What is the Solar constant (S)?
intensity of sunlight at planets orbit
What are the characteristics of the sun hitting the earth at the equator?
more direction sunlight, warmer, closest to sun, more solar energy