Quiz 2 Notes

Question 1

Three mechanisms of heat transfer

Answer 1

Conduction: requires direct contact between substances and is least important mechanism for atmosphere
Convection: heat transferred through a medium. Warm air rises and cooler air sinks
Radiation: heat transferred by flow of electromagnetic radiation

Question 2

Planck’s law

Answer 2

All objects emit radiant energy at all times, except at absolute zero

Question 3

Stefan-Boltzmann’s law

Answer 3

The intensity of an object’s radiation is directly proportional to the fourth power its absolute temperature
E = σT^4

Question 4

Wien’s displacement law

Answer 4

The wavelength of peak radiation is inversely proportional to the absolute temperature of the emitting object
λmax = 2898 micrometers * K / Temperature in Kelvins

Question 5

Albedo

Answer 5

The reflectivity of a substance expressed as by the percentage of incoming radiation reflected by a surface

Question 6

Radiative forcing

Answer 6

The net energy in Wm^2 made available to the Earth associated with the increase in the concentration of each GHG since 1750

Question 7

RF efficiency

Answer 7

The net energy increase associated with 1 ppb concentration increase
RF = RFE * the increase in the concentration of a GHG since 1750