Energy - Budget Physics

Question 1

What drives atmosphere physics?

Answer 1

Solar energy absorption

Question 2

What is the equilibrium of the earth-atmosphere system?

Answer 2

Energy recieved of SW visble poriton, re-emitted equally as LW infrared.

Question 3

What are the two fates of incoming solar radiation?

Answer 3

Reflection by albedo.
Absorption by EA system.

Question 4

What do estimates of Earth temperature by thermal equilibrium equate to?

Answer 4

255K or -18 degrees

Question 5

What is Earth temperature when GHG are taken into account?

Answer 5

288K or 14 degree

Question 6

Where is LW radiation re-emitted?

Answer 6

Middle of troposphere

Question 7

What drives motion of the atmosphere?

Answer 7

Atmospheric energy transfer.

Question 8

During infrared transfer from surface to troposphere, what forms does it take?

Answer 8

Sensible heat and Latent heat.

Question 9

When does latent heat occur?

Answer 9

When water vapor condenses, releasing heat of vaporization.

Question 10

What is the composition of solar radiation?

Answer 10

341 W where 102 reflects, 161 absorbed by surface.

Question 11

What is composition of outgoing infrared radiation?

Answer 11

396 W, 40 through atmopsheric radiation and 333 back radiation by GHG

Question 12

How is excess LW radiation balance?

Answer 12

Re-radiation of LW by GHG re-emission.

Question 13

What does GHG re-emission result in?

Answer 13

Surplus of energy at 106 W

Question 14

What further balances excess LW?

Answer 14

Latenet and sensible heat.

Question 15

What must energy budget be for thermal equilbrium?

Answer 15

Zero

Question 16

What temperature would earth have to be without latent and sensible heat?

Answer 16

50k warmer.

Question 17

How much SW is absorbed by atmosphere?

Answer 17

68 W

Question 18

How is Net Radiative Forcing of Surface calculated?

Answer 18

SW absorption + LW absorption from atmosphere - LW emission, = 106W

Question 19

How is Net Radiatve Forcing of Atmopshere calculated?

Answer 19

SW absorption + LW absorption from surface - LW emission to surface - LW emission to space = -106W

Question 20

Net Radiative Forcing

Answer 20

Change when amount of energy entering Earths atmosphere is different from amount of energy leaving it.

Question 21

What motion does solar/infrared radiation influence?

Answer 21

Vertical

Question 22

Why is horizontal transfer less uniform?

Answer 22

Must take into account surface properties, geometry and cloud cover.

Question 23

Optical Properties

Answer 23

Defines how a material interacts with light.

Question 24

How does incident solar radiation difffer in higher latitudes compared to equatorial?

Answer 24

Perpendicular to equator, whilst at different angles at higher latitudes.

Question 25

How does TOA pencil distribute in higher latitudes?

Answer 25

Obliquely

Question 26

What does oblique TOA distribution at higher latitudes mean?

Answer 26

Energy flux entering TOA is different across the incdience.

Question 27

Pencil of Rays

Answer 27

A geometric construct describing a beam/portion of a beam of EM radiation or charged particles, in the form of a narrow cylindrical beam.

Question 28

Atmospheric Insolation

Answer 28

Amount of solar radiation recieved by the planet at the TOA

Question 29

What is insolation dependent on?

Answer 29

Solar zenith angle and day length, both varaible by season and locaiton.

Question 30

Solar Zenith Angel

Answer 30

The angle between suns ray and vertical direction.

Question 31

When does insolation maximise at the equator?

Answer 31

At the equinox, decreasing poleward.

Question 32

How does SW travel distance differ in equator vs higher latitudes?

Answer 32

Direct at equator, at an angle at higher latitudes.

Question 33

How does albedo differ across earth?

Answer 33

Less at equator due to less ocean coverage, absorbing more SW, whilst higher latitudes have more albedo due to ice covering.

Question 34

How is tropics supplmeneted in albedo?

Answer 34

Increased albedo due to storm tracks.

Question 35

How does OLR relate at the equator?

Answer 35

More clouds thus more albedo, whilst at subtropics surrounding convective centres have higher OLR.

Question 36

Why do subtropics have higher OLR?

Answer 36

Cloud formation inhibition due to sinking motion, compensating rising motion inside ITCZ

Question 37

How is thermal equilibrium maintained despite differences in latitude heating/cooling?

Answer 37

General circulation.

Question 38

Solar Zenith Angle

Answer 38

Describes angle between the sun rays and the vertical axis of the planetary body.

Question 39

Solar Azimuth Angle

Answer 39

This measures angle of the sun by the horizontal plane.

Question 40

Why is zenith angle important?

Answer 40

In intensity of radiation we recieved from the sun

Question 41

Whay causes south/north latitude season variation?

Answer 41

The zenith angle

Question 42

Thermal Equilibirum

Answer 42

Describes how two systems in diathermic contact cause changes in the system by the passage of heat energy.

Question 43

What is thermal equilibrium determined by?

Answer 43

Zeroth law of thermodynamics