Global Energy Budget Flashcards
Incoming solar radiation is…
short wave energy (because the sun is so hot)
Terrestrial energy is…
outgoing solar radiation, from the Earth. It is transmitted at longer wave lengths because it is cooler.
Short-wave radiation from the sun…
enters from outer edges of the atmosphere and passes through atmosphere. Much of it is absorbed and reflected.
Terrestrial long-wave radiation is insolation…
absorbed by the earth’s surface and re-radiated back. This radiation is trapped by greenhouse gases, keeping earth warm.
Albedo
The ratio between the insulation and the amount reflected.
Clouds absorb…
3% and reflect 23%
Atmosphere absorbs…
24%
How many % of isolation directly reaches Earth?
24%
Earth reflects…
4% back to space
Stratosphere absorbs…
1%
Around 21% reaches Earth as…
diffuse radiation, reminder is scattered back into space by cloud and dust reflection.
Absorption by ozone prevents…
too much UV radiation reaching the surface. This accounts for roughly 3 %. About 18% is absorbed by dust particles and other impurities.
Scattering
Involves the smallest atmospheric particles intercepting sw radiation to absorb the radiation and then scattered by wind. Around 7% is lost to space.
Reflection by clouds
Lower/thicker clouds reflect more (50-70% albedo) than higher/ thinner ice-crystal clouds (30-40% albedo). Overall 21% of energy is reflected by clouds.
Reflection by surface of the earth
It reflects around 3% and this is dependent on its albedo. Snow and ice can reflect up to 95% of energy compared to 10% by dark soil.
