Introduction

Greenhouse Effect: the details

Detailed energy balance
Greenhouse Gases

Intensity (A.IU.)

Short wavelength in, long out

Black Body Curve: Plancks Law

10

5

288 K

x 2,000,000

Wavelength (micron)

5
15

Main ideas

Visible (short) wavelength radiation is
absorbed by the Earths surface

The surface of the Earth heats up

The Earth re-radiates mostly at infrared
(long) wavelengths

The infrared radiation is absorbed by the
molecules in the Earths atmosphere

The Earths atmosphere heats up, reradiates upwards AND downwards

The Earths surface heats up .

1,370 W/m2 at 12 noon

Average 342 W/m2 over 24 hours

Reflected solar"
Radiation"
107 Wm-2"

Radiated infrared"
radiation"
235 Wm-2"

Incident solar"
radiation"
342 Wm-2"

Reflected by clouds & gases

in atmosphere "

77"

Warning! Your
atmosphere is
absorbing some of
the incoming solar
Emitted by "
radiation
Atmosphere"

205"

Greenhouse"
Gases"

30"

by "
67" Absorbed
Atmosphere"

24"

radiated back towards

Earth"
324 Wm-2"

78"
390"
Surface reflection " 30"

168"
Absorbed by "
Surface"

390"
Thermals"

Surface "
Evapotranspiration" Emission"

324"
Absorbed by Surface"

Gives the average temperature of +15oC

The Greenhouse Effect

Low radiation

E* = Tcold4 Wm-2

Height (km)

Radiate heat
high in the cold
atmosphere

10

Colder
6oC per km

5

Absorb heat low
in the warm
atmosphere

Warm air
rises and
cools

50

0

Temperature (oC)

High absorption



E* = Twarm4 Wm-2

The Greenhouse gases

NO2

N2 , O2

CO2
Ar

H 2O

CH4

Tri-atomic or greater
Moon seen through the atmosphere, Credit: NASA; Molecular models, Credit: after Wikipedia

Bi-atomic or lesser

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svante_Arrhenius

Svante Arrhenius
(1859-1927)

On the influence of Carbonic Acid in the Air Upon

the Temperature of the Ground
Phil Mag 41 237-76 (1896)

Conclusion: Double CO2 = Temperature rise of

5-6oC
(Predicted would take 3,000 years)

Summary

Greenhouse Effect: the details

Detailed energy balance
Tri-atomic gases absorb infrared
radiation
Svante Arrhenius: first to
understand the role of CO2 in
heating Earths atmosphere

Image Credits

Slide

Details

Swirling Maelstrom (http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/gallery/preview/Swirling_304_Sept2010.jpg) by NASA [Public Domain]

Full Earth (http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/115334main_image_feature_329_ys_full.jpg) by NASA/Apollo 17 [Public Domain]
Black body curves of Planck (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_body.svg) by Darth Kule (Own Work) [Public Domain], via Wikimedia
Commons

(partial) Swirling Maelstrom (http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/gallery/preview/Swirling_304_Sept2010.jpg) by NASA [Public Domain]

View of the crescent moon through the top of the earth's atmosphere (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Top_of_Atmosphere.jpg)
By NASA Earth Observatory [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 
Greenhouse Diagram by David Jamieson based on concepts expressed in (Houghton J) Global Warming. Cambridge University Press
(2009).
Panorama Hueckeswagen-Pleuse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lestidae/5436828569/) by Andre Schaefer (CC BY-SA 2.0)

View of the crescent moon through the top of the earth's atmosphere (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Top_of_Atmosphere.jpg) By
NASA Earth Observatory [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 
Distribution of temperature diagram by David Jamieson

View of the crescent moon through the top of the earth's atmosphere (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Top_of_Atmosphere.jpg) By
NASA Earth Observatory [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 
Carbon-dioxide-3D-vdW (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carbon-dioxide-3D-vdW.svg) By Jacek FH (Own work based on
Image:Carbon-dioxide-3D-vdW.png), (CC-BY-SA-3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Nitrogen-dioxide-3D-vdW (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nitrogen-dioxide-3D-vdW.png) By Benjah-bmm27 (Own work) [Public
Domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Nitrogen-3D-vdW (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nitrogen-3D-vdW.png) By Benjah-bmm27 (Own work) [Public Domain], via
Wikimedia Commons
Water molecule 3D By Dbc334(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Water_molecule_3D.svg) (first version); Jynto (second version)
(File:Water-3D-vdW.png) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Methane-3D-space-filling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Methane-3D-space-filling.svg) (first version); Jynto (second version)
(File:Water-3D-vdW.png) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Ar by David Jamieson

vante Arrhenius (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arrhenius2.jpg) by Author Unknown [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons