The Greenhouse Effect
- What is the greenhouse effect and why is it important?
“The greenhouse gases absorb some of this energy and radiate much of it back towards the surface whilst the rest is radiated out to space. This plays an important role in keeping the Earth 's surface warm and able to sustain life.”
Step 1: How much energy from the sun hits the earth and what determines the amount? Based on the energy coming in, what should be the average intensity of the energy leaving the earth?
The Earth takes in a portion of the energy the Sun gives out, equaling 0.1x10^-9. The strength of the output of energy from the sun that hits the Earth is 1370Wm^-2. If the sun was to apply its energy over the Earth’s whole area (area of a sphere = 4πr^2), …show more content…
If we use the surface area of the Earth, which is 5.111859325x1011m^2, then the resultant temperature is 255K when the radioactive flux is 240Wm^-2.
Step 2:
With an area of 1.277964831x1011m^2 absorbs energy from the sun, an area of 5.111859325x1011m^2 re-emits energy from the sun. The initial area absorbs 960Wm^-2 while the greater area re-radiates 240Wm^-2. When multiplied out, both values equal the same amount of energy.
Step 3:
Albedo is the amount of reflected energy from an object. Because of Earth’s average albedo of 30%, only 70% of the energy is actually taken in. If we multiply 1370Wm^-2 times .70, then the result is 960Wm^-2.
Step 4:
The calculated mean temperature of the Earth is 15°C which is 288K. When we solve for radioactive flux by using the ‘sigma T to the fourth’ rule (radioactive flux = AσT4) where A = 5.111859325x1011m^2, K = 288K and σ = the Stefan-Boltzmann proportionality continuous which is about 5.670373(21)×10^−8 W m^−2 K^−4, then the resultant radioactive flux concludes to be equaling 390Wm-2 which shows a change of 390Wm^-2 - 240Wm^-2 = 150Wm^-2.
Step …show more content…
This change of 33K=-240°C is because to the greenhouse effect.
Step 6:
The attendance of specific mechanisms in the atmosphere rises the greenhouse effect. Over excessive amount of water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have been known to rise the greenhouse effect.
Step 7:
The greenhouse effect is a natural happening process. There are specific greenhouse gases that we have boosted the effect ever since the industrial revolution. The happenings of deforestation and burning of fossil fuels in transportation and manufacturing added to the greenhouse effect. With carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are all increased because of human action; the greatest obvious is carbon dioxide.
Step 8: The intense increase of carbon dioxide in a short amount of time can be credited to the Industrial Revolution and the boosted levels in the use of fossil fuels. If the existence of these gases does not equal out or even decrease, the life expectancy of the atmosphere is
- What is the greenhouse effect and why is it important?
“The greenhouse gases absorb some of this energy and radiate much of it back towards the surface whilst the rest is radiated out to space. This plays an important role in keeping the Earth 's surface warm and able to sustain life.”
Step 1: How much energy from the sun hits the earth and what determines the amount? Based on the energy coming in, what should be the average intensity of the energy leaving the earth?
The Earth takes in a portion of the energy the Sun gives out, equaling 0.1x10^-9. The strength of the output of energy from the sun that hits the Earth is 1370Wm^-2. If the sun was to apply its energy over the Earth’s whole area (area of a sphere = 4πr^2), …show more content…
If we use the surface area of the Earth, which is 5.111859325x1011m^2, then the resultant temperature is 255K when the radioactive flux is 240Wm^-2.
Step 2:
With an area of 1.277964831x1011m^2 absorbs energy from the sun, an area of 5.111859325x1011m^2 re-emits energy from the sun. The initial area absorbs 960Wm^-2 while the greater area re-radiates 240Wm^-2. When multiplied out, both values equal the same amount of energy.
Step 3:
Albedo is the amount of reflected energy from an object. Because of Earth’s average albedo of 30%, only 70% of the energy is actually taken in. If we multiply 1370Wm^-2 times .70, then the result is 960Wm^-2.
Step 4:
The calculated mean temperature of the Earth is 15°C which is 288K. When we solve for radioactive flux by using the ‘sigma T to the fourth’ rule (radioactive flux = AσT4) where A = 5.111859325x1011m^2, K = 288K and σ = the Stefan-Boltzmann proportionality continuous which is about 5.670373(21)×10^−8 W m^−2 K^−4, then the resultant radioactive flux concludes to be equaling 390Wm-2 which shows a change of 390Wm^-2 - 240Wm^-2 = 150Wm^-2.
Step …show more content…
This change of 33K=-240°C is because to the greenhouse effect.
Step 6:
The attendance of specific mechanisms in the atmosphere rises the greenhouse effect. Over excessive amount of water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have been known to rise the greenhouse effect.
Step 7:
The greenhouse effect is a natural happening process. There are specific greenhouse gases that we have boosted the effect ever since the industrial revolution. The happenings of deforestation and burning of fossil fuels in transportation and manufacturing added to the greenhouse effect. With carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are all increased because of human action; the greatest obvious is carbon dioxide.
Step 8: The intense increase of carbon dioxide in a short amount of time can be credited to the Industrial Revolution and the boosted levels in the use of fossil fuels. If the existence of these gases does not equal out or even decrease, the life expectancy of the atmosphere is