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Physics of the Atmosphere

Physics of the Atmosphere. Global Warming. The sun Emits Light that radiates through space and warms the Earth. The sun emits most of its light as visible light. Blackbody Curve. Absorbed radiation heats up the Earth and it radiates as a blackbody at a lower temperature. Molecules

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Physics of the Atmosphere

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  1. Physics of the Atmosphere Global Warming

  2. The sun Emits Light that radiates through space and warms the Earth

  3. The sun emits most of its light as visible light Blackbody Curve

  4. Absorbed radiation heats up the Earth and it radiates as a blackbody at a lower temperature

  5. Molecules Combination of atoms; most in the atmosphere contain only a few atoms (e.g. CO2, O2) Molecules are held together by an attractive electrical force. If they get too close to each other, the atoms start to repel. The net result gives something that behaves like a spring

  6. Emission and Absorption of Electromagnetic Radiation by Molecules Emission: Because of the spring-like forces between atoms in a molecule, they can vibrate and vibrating charges emit electromagnetic radiation. For most molecules this radiation is in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum Light Absorption: If electromagnetic radiation of the right wavelength passes near the molecule, it can “resonate” and the molecule can absorb the radiation. For many molecules, this is also in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum Light

  7. Composition of the Atmosphere Major : N2 78.084% O2 20.946% Ar 00.934% 99.964% Some Trace Gases (in ppm) CO2 350 H2O 20-20,000 Ne 12 He 5 NO2 2 CH4 2 Greenhouse gases

  8. Solar constant: increased by about 30% during the lifetime of Sun Albedo: Snow and clouds have high albedo; dark earth has low albedo

  9. CO2 Emissions From Fossil Fuel Combustion: 1996 Million Tonnes of CO2 Source: CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion 1971 - 1996, International Energy Agency, page II.4-5, 1998 Edition

  10. 25 20 15 10 5 0 India Japan Russia Canada Mexico Germany South Africa United States United Kingdom People's Rep. Of China CO2 Emissions Per Person: 1996 Million Tonnes of CO2

  11. Hydroflourocarbons (HFCs), perflourocarbons (PFCs), and Sulfur hexaflouride (SF6) Nitrous Oxide Methane Carbon Dioxide Source: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 - 1996. U.S. EPA publication #236-R-98-006

  12. Global Warming is a complicated problem There are many complicated affects that work together e.g. Increased CO2 causes planet to warm which causes more water vapor to form. Water vapor is also a greenhouse gas which will cause more warming (positive feedback) Increased CO2 causes planet to warm which causes more water vapor to form. This causes more clouds which increases the amount of sunlight reflected away from the Earth (increases the albedo) which would cause the planet to cool.

  13. Actions of the US on Global Warming • Developing countries are not included • Cost is too great – wait until science is more precise • Warmer temperatures are not necessarily bad • Too many uncertainties in science • Climate models have “fudge” factors • Global climate models don’t agree with each other • Evidence for connection of solar cycle and warming • Discrepancies between surface and atmospheric temperature data

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