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Radiation and the Earth’s Atmosphere

Radiation and the Earth’s Atmosphere. http://telstar.ote.cmu.edu/environ/m3/s2/index.shtml. Ask not what your atmosphere can do for you…. The atmosphere maintains the long-term climate, the short-term weather, and the temperature conditions on Earth. Several factors involved…

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Radiation and the Earth’s Atmosphere

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  1. Radiation and the Earth’s Atmosphere http://telstar.ote.cmu.edu/environ/m3/s2/index.shtml

  2. Ask not what your atmosphere can do for you….. • The atmosphere maintains the long-term climate, the short-term weather, and the temperature conditions on Earth. • Several factors involved… • Energy (from the sun produces the movements or currents) • Earth's movement relative to the sun • components of the atmosphere • components of Earth's surface

  3. The Earth Sun System

  4. The atmosphere can change • In the last century especially, this system--which evolved over billions of years--has been subject to rapid changes due to industrial activities increasing at unprecedented rates.

  5. Structure of the Atmosphere • An ocean of air • Temperature changes • Stable layers

  6. The Thermosphere dilemna How can 1,ooo degress feel cool?? • What is heat? What is temperature?

  7. Heat and Temperaure • Heat is the thermal energy that is transferred from a warmer object to a cooler object. • Temperature a number that is related to the average kinetic energy of the molecules • Thermosphere: Very few molecules, Moving very fast. They have high temperature (I.e. KE), but not enough of them to transfer much heat (I.e warm up something)

  8. Sun’s emission spectrum • The range of wavelengths that fall on top of the Earth's atmosphere Minor amounts of X-ray. Measured as 1370-1380 watts/m2

  9. How much Energy gets through?

  10. Molecules responsible for absorption

  11. ‘Windows’ of Opportunity

  12. The Solar Constant

  13. The Energy Lab • Problem: How much energy arrives in our school yard from Sun? • What to do: Compare our ground level measurement with the 1370 W/m2 at the top of the atmosphere.

  14. Measuring Energy from the Sun • Lab: • http://csc.gallaudet.edu/soarhigh/SHMA330.HTM • Photos: http://sci.gallaudet.edu/Mary/classpics01/elab20014th.html

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