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Solar Energy and Earth’s Atmosphere. GPH 111. What we cover:. Two classifications of heat energy Layering of earth’s atmosphere General atmospheric density Normal adiabatic lapse rate and unusual twists Problems that generate pollution. Let’s put the Earth and Sun into perspective….
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What we cover: • Two classifications of heat energy • Layering of earth’s atmosphere • General atmospheric density • Normal adiabatic lapse rate and unusual twists • Problems that generate pollution
Let’s put the Earth and Sun into perspective… If the sun’s total energy output for one second was stored in some super duper battery, it would take the US over 9 million years to use it all.
Earth vs. the Sun energy breakdown Layers of the Atmosphere Exercise Time!
Atmospheric Function… Outer Space Thermosphere Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere
Earth’s Atmosphere and Solar Energy <0.001% Air Density >90%
Air Pressure Kittinger and his Balloon 102,800 feet (99% of atmosphere) Accelerated to 614 mph Freefall of 4.5 minutes
Adiabatic Lapse Rates… Through the troposphere, temperature drops with elevation at a normal lapse rate of 6.4 per 1000 m or 3.5 per 1000 feet on average. The rate of change can vary substantially because of local weather changes
Inversion Layers… With pollution unable to mix in the upper atmosphere during an inversion, this leads to poor visibility and heath issues
Solar Radiation and Smog… Smog Production: Car exhaust (NO2, VOCs, CO) and ultraviolet radiation chemically react to generate: Ozone, Peroxyacetyl nitrates (PANs), and Nitric Acid.
Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere… CFC’s react with Ozone to deplete the good Ozone from the atmosphere
Things to know… The difference between short and longwave radiation The different layers of the atmosphere based on temperature The layers where solar energy is absorbed How inversion layers develop and their affect on pollution What does car exhaust have to interact with to generate pollution? The general cause and effect of ozone loss in the stratosphere Help: Chapter ER