Heat Budget & Greenhouse Effect

Question 1

What would happen if you removed the atmosphere and oceans from the earth system?

Answer 1

The other systems would collapse and not function

Question 2

What would happen to the atmosphere and oceans if you removed any other part of the earth system?

Answer 2

Very little

Question 3

What interactions do the atmosphere and oceans have with the cryosphere?

Answer 3

The atmosphere provides precipitation which is the most important input as well as evaporation which is also an important output. The oceans also influence sea ice erosion and sea level change.

Question 4

What interactions do the atmosphere and oceans have with the geosphere?

Answer 4

The atmosphere and oceans influence wind and rain therefore erosion and transportation. They can also provide transportation through the ocean body.

Question 5

What interactions do the atmosphere and oceans have with the biosphere?

Answer 5

The atmosphere contains various gases that affect the biochemistry of organisms. They are also responsible for transportation of seeds which dictates colonialization.

Question 6

What is the average temperatures of the Earth, Venus and Mercury alongside their relative proximity to the sun?

Answer 6

Earth = 14 (furthest)
Venus = 480 (middle)
Mercury = 179 (closest)

Question 7

How much energy does the face of the earth receive if it was not a sphere and just a disc?

Answer 7

1366 w m2

Question 8

How much energy would the face of the earth receive as a sphere?

Answer 8

342 w m2

Question 9

How much energy does the earth actually receive due to albedo?

Answer 9

240 w m2

Question 10

What is the name of the constant that describes the relationship between temperature and incoming radiation?

Answer 10

Stefan Boltzman

Question 11

With the final amount of energy that the earth receives, according to the SB constant what temperature should the earth be?

Answer 11

-18c

Question 12

What is the main factor causing the temperature of the earth to be 14c instead of -18c?

Answer 12

Greenhouse gas effect

Question 13

What is the greenhouse gas effect?

Answer 13

The process whereby both incoming solar radiation as well as outgoing infrared radiation is absorbed by various gases in the atmosphere

Question 14

What are 3 greenhouse gases?

Answer 14

Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrogen, Ozone, Oxygen, Water Vapour

Question 15

How is outgoing infrared radiation from the earth generated?

Answer 15

Most (51%) of the incoming radiation is absorbed by the land where it is then converted in wavelength to become infrared

Question 16

What is the major threat to altering the greenhouse gas effect today?

Answer 16

Anthropogenic burning of fossil fuels that is releasing more greenhouse gas layers causing the amount of radiation within the atmosphere to grow and thus increase temperature.

Question 17

Describe the trend of the CO2 and radiation absorption relationship?

Answer 17

Non-linear: CO2 is already absorbing 100% of the radiation (incoming and outgoing) that is trying to go through it at peak wavelength. The gas can only absorb radiation at wavelengths shorter and longer than this peak as its not 100% there. More CO2 will mean that there is more molecules to absorb radiation. Eventually the gas will reach such a high concentration that it will absorb radiation at all wavelengths, and so this effect will level off.

Question 18

Describe the relationship between CH4 concentration and absorption

Answer 18

Methane is yet to reach 100% absorption of radiation in the atmosphere and so an increase in its concentration will mean that there is a large increase in absorption because radiation is being absorbed more at all wavelengths.