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Climate Change - Atmosphere > Energy - Budget Physics > Flashcards

Energy - Budget Physics Flashcards

1
Q

What drives atmosphere physics?

A

Solar energy absorption

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2
Q

What is the equilibrium of the earth-atmosphere system?

A

Energy recieved of SW visble poriton, re-emitted equally as LW infrared.

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3
Q

What are the two fates of incoming solar radiation?

A

Reflection by albedo.
Absorption by EA system.

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4
Q

What do estimates of Earth temperature by thermal equilibrium equate to?

A

255K or -18 degrees

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5
Q

What is Earth temperature when GHG are taken into account?

A

288K or 14 degree

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6
Q

Where is LW radiation re-emitted?

A

Middle of troposphere

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7
Q

What drives motion of the atmosphere?

A

Atmospheric energy transfer.

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8
Q

During infrared transfer from surface to troposphere, what forms does it take?

A

Sensible heat and Latent heat.

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9
Q

When does latent heat occur?

A

When water vapor condenses, releasing heat of vaporization.

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10
Q

What is the composition of solar radiation?

A

341 W where 102 reflects, 161 absorbed by surface.

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11
Q

What is composition of outgoing infrared radiation?

A

396 W, 40 through atmopsheric radiation and 333 back radiation by GHG

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12
Q

How is excess LW radiation balance?

A

Re-radiation of LW by GHG re-emission.

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13
Q

What does GHG re-emission result in?

A

Surplus of energy at 106 W

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14
Q

What further balances excess LW?

A

Latenet and sensible heat.

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15
Q

What must energy budget be for thermal equilbrium?

A

Zero

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16
Q

What temperature would earth have to be without latent and sensible heat?

A

50k warmer.

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17
Q

How much SW is absorbed by atmosphere?

A

68 W

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18
Q

How is Net Radiative Forcing of Surface calculated?

A

SW absorption + LW absorption from atmosphere - LW emission, = 106W

19
Q

How is Net Radiatve Forcing of Atmopshere calculated?

A

SW absorption + LW absorption from surface - LW emission to surface - LW emission to space = -106W

20
Q

Net Radiative Forcing

A

Change when amount of energy entering Earths atmosphere is different from amount of energy leaving it.

21
Q

What motion does solar/infrared radiation influence?

A

Vertical

22
Q

Why is horizontal transfer less uniform?

A

Must take into account surface properties, geometry and cloud cover.

23
Q

Optical Properties

A

Defines how a material interacts with light.

24
Q

How does incident solar radiation difffer in higher latitudes compared to equatorial?

A

Perpendicular to equator, whilst at different angles at higher latitudes.

25
Q

How does TOA pencil distribute in higher latitudes?

A

Obliquely

26
Q

What does oblique TOA distribution at higher latitudes mean?

A

Energy flux entering TOA is different across the incdience.

27
Q

Pencil of Rays

A

A geometric construct describing a beam/portion of a beam of EM radiation or charged particles, in the form of a narrow cylindrical beam.

28
Q

Atmospheric Insolation

A

Amount of solar radiation recieved by the planet at the TOA

29
Q

What is insolation dependent on?

A

Solar zenith angle and day length, both varaible by season and locaiton.

30
Q

Solar Zenith Angel

A

The angle between suns ray and vertical direction.

31
Q

When does insolation maximise at the equator?

A

At the equinox, decreasing poleward.

32
Q

How does SW travel distance differ in equator vs higher latitudes?

A

Direct at equator, at an angle at higher latitudes.

33
Q

How does albedo differ across earth?

A

Less at equator due to less ocean coverage, absorbing more SW, whilst higher latitudes have more albedo due to ice covering.

34
Q

How is tropics supplmeneted in albedo?

A

Increased albedo due to storm tracks.

35
Q

How does OLR relate at the equator?

A

More clouds thus more albedo, whilst at subtropics surrounding convective centres have higher OLR.

36
Q

Why do subtropics have higher OLR?

A

Cloud formation inhibition due to sinking motion, compensating rising motion inside ITCZ

37
Q

How is thermal equilibrium maintained despite differences in latitude heating/cooling?

A

General circulation.

38
Q

Solar Zenith Angle

A

Describes angle between the sun rays and the vertical axis of the planetary body.

39
Q

Solar Azimuth Angle

A

This measures angle of the sun by the horizontal plane.

40
Q

Why is zenith angle important?

A

In intensity of radiation we recieved from the sun

41
Q

Whay causes south/north latitude season variation?

A

The zenith angle

42
Q

Thermal Equilibirum

A

Describes how two systems in diathermic contact cause changes in the system by the passage of heat energy.

43
Q

What is thermal equilibrium determined by?

A

Zeroth law of thermodynamics

Climate Change - Atmosphere (17 decks)

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