GROUP : 3
HARSH N. PATEL : 13 ME 103 BHAUTIK B PATEL : 13 ME 094 DARSH A NAIK : 13 ME 078 DHRUVAL PATEL : 13 ME 101 CHIRAG PATEL PARTH PATEL
The Greenhouse Effect
The Atmosphere
Principal Atmospheric Gases
GAS Nitrogen Oxygen
MASS
75% 23%
Argon
Water Vapor CO2
1%
0.3% 0.06%
Principal Atmospheric Gases
GAS Nitrogen Oxygen
MASS
75% 23%
Argon
Water Vapor CO2
1%
0.3% 0.06%
Greenhouse gases
Earths Energy Balance
Energy entering top of atmosphere = Energy leaving top of atmosphere Energy entering the Earths surface = Energy leaving Earths surface
Solar Radiation (Sunlight)
Sunlight is primarily made up of the following:
Visible Light (44%) Infrared Radiation (48%) Ultraviolet Radiation (7%)
Unit: 1 m = 0.000001 m
Energy from the Sun
Obviously, the Sun provides the Earth with its energy. The question is, how much of the Suns energy does the Earth get? Suns energy is either Scattered (reflected away) or Absorbed Scattering happens by bouncing off Particles in the atmosphere Earths surface Absorption happens when certain gases absorb the energy The reality is the only certain gases absorb certain wavelengths.
Incoming solar radiation
Each beam of incoming sunlight can be either: Reflected back to space: Albedo Clouds Atmosphere Surface Or absorbed; either by atmosphere (e.g. clouds or ozone) or Earths surface.
Absorption of radiation
Absorption of shortwave radiation by atmospheric gas molecules is fairly weak; most absorption of shortwave radiation occurs at the Earths surface.
Most gases do not interact strongly with longwave radiation, however
Greenhouse gas molecules absorb certain wavelengths of longwave radiation.
Absorption of radiation in the Earths atmosphere
Some surface radiation escapes to space Most outgoing longwave is absorbed in atmosphere (by greenhouse gases)
Some atmospheric radiation escapes to space
Greenhouse gases emit longwave upward and downward
Some atmospheric radiation is absorbed at the surface
Longwave radiation is emitted from surface.
Greenhouse Effect
Sequence of steps:
1. Solar radiation absorbed by earths surface.
2. Earth gives off infrared radiation. 3. Greenhouse gases absorb some of the Earths infrared radiation. 4. Greenhouse gases (water and CO2) give off infrared radiation in all directions. 5. Earth absorbs downward directed infrared radiation
Result: warmer surface temperature
Earths Greenhouse Effect
Without the greenhouse effect, the surface temperature of Earth would be Very Cold (-18C) Greenhouse gases play an important role in shaping climate. More GHGs warmer climate Less GHGs cooler climate
Activity
Draw a diagram showing how the earth is heated by the Sun. Include arrows and/or lines to indicate the Energy Balance of the earth. Energy Balance Energy coming in and energy going out. In your diagram, include how clouds absorb, reflect and emit energy.
Activity 2
1. What percentage of the suns radiation is a) absorbed by the Earths surface? b) absorbed by the atmosphere c) reflected out to space? What percentage of the energy received by the earths surface comes directly from greenhouse gas emissions? If the suns radiation was to increase by 10%, how would the following energy units change (increase, decrease or stay the same) a) Energy gained by the Earths surface. b) Energy lost by the Earths surface. c) Energy emitted by greenhouse gases. d) Energy lost to space.
2. 3.
