The Changing Atmosphere: From CO2 to the Greenhouse Effect

1. HW#7 on the Greenhouse Effect, available on-line at D2L. Assigned March 27th, DUE in-class on April 3rd.

2. Our Living Earth and the atmosphere

3. The Earth’s atmosphere has changed substantially over our planet’s history • First gases surrounding Earth were originally hydrogen and helium (during solar system formation) • Earth’s early atmosphere was primarily CO2 and released from Earth’s interior by volcanoes • Earth’s current atmosphere is a 4-to-1 mixture of nitrogen and oxygen which was created by biological activity of single-celled bacteria.

4. The Earth’s atmosphere has changed substantially over our planet’s history

6. The sun drives the climate of Earth http://www.spaceweather.com/images2002/18mar02/cme_c3_big.gif

7. The amount of energy absorbed by Earth from the Sun is equal to the amount of energy given off by Earth.

8. Energy Output per second Wavelength The spectral curve of the Earth, as measured from far above Earth’s atmosphere, peaks at a wavelength of approximately 10mm and that corresponds to a temperature of approximately 255 K (0oF).

9. Energy Output per second Temperature seen at top of atmosphere is the same, but what about the surface? Wavelength How will the temperature measured by the spacecraft change if the earth is surrounded by an atmosphere? “The Greenhouse Effect”

10. Which of the following appear to have a Greenhouse Effect?

11. Wien’s Law SUNLIGHT • Sun radiates mostly visible and IR

12. Wien’s Law • Sun radiates mostly visible and IR • Earth radiates Mostly IR, its spectrum peaks in IR around 10 microns (.01mm) SUNLIGHT EARTHLIGHT

13. Not all EM radiation can penetrate Earth’s atmosphere.

14. Atmosphere Absorption Spectrum • Very little absorption at visible wavelengths • Absorption of UV by ozone in upper atmosphere • Absorption of IR by greenhouse gases in lower atmosphere UV VIS IR O2 & O3 H2O H2O CO2 CO2 H2O O3 CO2 H2O (rotation)

15. Visible Interaction of Light and the Atmosphere • Greenhouse gases (H20, CO2, CH4, other) • Absorb different wavelengths of light • Absorb and re-emit IR • Are transparent to visible light http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_3_1.htm

16. Energy Flow through Atmosphere

17. From your Mastering Astronomy Web site

18. Understanding the Greenhouse Effect • Spectra for Sun and Earth • Sun gives of mostly visible ; Earth gives of mostly IR • Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit IR but are transparent to Visible light. • H20, CO2, CH4 • Surface of planet is heated by energy (light) from the Sun AND from energy (IR light) re-radiated from the atmosphere • GHE effect is a natural process and the surface of Earth would be much colder w/out GHE

19. Three DIFFERENT Phenomena • Ozone Depletion • Greenhouse Effect • Global Warming

20. NON-Natural, Human-induced Greenhouse Effect leads to Global Warming • Caused by humans • Increased levels of CO2 from burning of fossil fuels during industrial revolution to present • 1.5°F (0.8 °C) temperature increase over past 150 years

21. The human population is dramatically increasing Human induced GHE leads to Global Warming

22. The needs of this large population of humans with regard to transportation, energy, and industry is profoundly altering the Earth’s atmosphere Human induced GHE leads to Global Warming

23. The increasing human population is profoundly altering the Earth’s environment Human induced GHE leads to Global Warming

24. Ozone can be destroyed by synthetic CFC pollutants, such as freon Two distributions of stratospheric ozone over Antarctic in October 1979 and October 1998. The data show that there has been a dramatic decrease in ozone over the Antarctic. But since we receive very little UV from the Sun, ozone depletion is not contributing to global warming – but could contribute to increased skin cancer where the hole exists

25. Ozone depletion does not lead to Global Warming IR VIS UV O2 & O3 H2O H2O CO2 CO2 H2O O3 CO2 H2O (rotation) Since we receive very little UV from the Sun, ozone depletion is not contributing to global warming – but could contribute to increased skin cancer where the hole exists

26. Ozone can be destroyed by synthetic CFC pollutants, such as freon Will the ozone hole over Antarctica have a more profound effect on the sunburn you receive if you are lying out for an hour on the beaches of Antarctica or Brazil?

27. What are they and how are they different? The Greenhouse Effect Global Warming Ozone Depletion

28. The greenhouse effect is caused by: • A lack of ozone in Earth’s atmosphere. • the presence of carbon dioxide and water in Earth’s atmosphere. • humidity from water vapor makes the atmosphere feel hotter • heat energy is trapped in circulation patterns of the ocean • the atmosphere shelters earth’s surface from solar wind Cross-Tab Label 0/0

29. If our atmosphere absorbed visible light as much as it absorbs infrared light, which of the following would be true? • the surface of the earth would be cooler than it is today • the surface of earth would be warmer than it is today • the surface of the earth would be same temperature as it is today • scientists do not yet understand global climate enough to know for sure 0/0