Download - The Major Earth Systems
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Structure of the Atmosphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Ozone MaximumStratosphere
Troposphere
Temperature
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http://www.ems.psu.edu/Courses/earth002/0402G_M.htm
How does energy input to the earth surface vary across the globe?
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This Class - The Green House Effect and Global Warming
How is energy distributed to the earth’s surface?
What are greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect?
Impact of an increase in atmospheric CO2
on greenhouse effect Recent changes in greenhouse gas concentrations
Relationship between the greenhouse effect and global warming
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The “Greenhouse Effect”
The Earth’s surface thus receives energy from two sources: the sun & the atmosphere – As a result the Earth’s surface is ~33C warmer
than it would be without an atmosphere
Greenhouse gases are transparent to shortwave but absorb longwave radiation – Thus the atmosphere stores energy
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
incoming outgoing
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1. Shorter, highEnergy wavelengths Hit the earthsSurface
2. Incoming energy Is converted to heat
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3. Longer, infraredWavelengths hitGreenhouse gasMolecules in theatmosphere
4. Greenhouse gasMolecules in theAtmosphere emitInfrared radiationBack towards earth
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78% nitrogen
20.6% oxygen
< 1% argon
0.4% water vapor
0.036% carbon dioxide
traces gases:Ne, He, Kr, H, O3
Methane, Nitrous Oxide
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Absorption Spectra of Atmospheric Gases
Anthes, p. 55
CH4
CO2
N2O
H2O
O2 & O3
atmosphere
WAVELENGTH (micrometers)
InfraredVisible
UV
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Selected Greenhouse Gases
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – Source: Fossil fuel burning, deforestation Anthropogenic increase: 30% Average atmospheric residence time: 500 years
Methane (CH4) – Source: Rice cultivation, cattle & sheep ranching, decay
from landfills, mining Anthropogenic increase: 145% Average atmospheric residence time: 7-10 years
Nitrous oxide (N2O) – Source: Industry and agriculture (fertilizers) Anthropogenic increase: 15% Average atmospheric residence time: 140-190 years
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Summary
Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation and prevent it from escaping to space.
Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are very goodat capturing energy at wavelengths that other compoundsmiss
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Greenhouse Effect & Global Warming
• The “greenhouse effect” & global warming are not the same thing. – Global warming refers to a rise in the
temperature of the surface of the earth • An increase in the concentration of
greenhouse gases leads to an increase in the the magnitude of the greenhouse effect. (Called enhanced greenhouse effect) – This results in global warming
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1840 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
14.5
1920
14.4
14.3
14.2
14.1
14.0
13.9
13.8
13.7
13.6
13.5
13.4
58.0
57.8
57.6
57.4
57.2
57.0
56.8
56.6
56.4
56.2
www.gcrio.org/ipcc/qa/cover.html (modified)
Variability
Average
Climate Change vs. Variability
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Climate Change vs. Variability
Even in a stable climate regime, there will always be some variation (wet/dry years, warm/cold years) A year with completely “average” or “normal” climate conditions is rare
Climate variability is natural.
The challenge for scientists is to determine whether any increase/decrease in precipitation, temperature, frequency of storms, sea level, etc. is due to climate variability or climate change.
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Global Energy Redistribution
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Radiation is not evenly distributed over theSurface of the earth. The northern latitudes have an energy deficit and the low latitude/ equator has an excess. But the low latitudes don’t indefinitely get hotter and the northern latitudes don’t get colder.
Why?
The atmosphere and ocean transfer energy from lowlatitudes to high
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Atmospheric Pressure Decreases With Height
Most of the energy is captured close to the surface
That energy drives climate and weather
50 percent of mass of the atmosphere is within 6 km of the surface
Pressure (mb)
Above 99%
Above 90%
Above 50%
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Atmospheric Feedbacks
Increased CO2
Higher temperature
More water vapor
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
More water vapor & other
changes
Increased cloud cover
More reflected solar radiation
Lower temperature
Less water vapor
More absorbed infrared radiation
Higher temperature
More water vapor
+
+
+
+
+
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