AE 137: Hydrometeorology

The Atmosphere,
Greenhouse Effect and
Global Warming
What is the physical structure of the atmosphere?
- multi-layered, with little chemical interaction
- most of the mass is near the surface
Atmospheric
Pressure
Decreases
With Height
Above 99%
Most of the
energy is
captured
close to the Above 90%
surface

That energy Above 50%

drives
climate and
weather Pressure (mb)

50 percent of mass of the atmosphere is within 6 km of the surface

Structure of the Atmosphere
Exosphere

Thermosphere/Ionosphere

Mesosphere
(UV Rays, cosmic rays, meteors)

(Ozone Maximum)
Stratosphere

Troposphere (most clouds, 4/5 of mass))

Temperature
What is the chemical structure of the
atmosphere?
- nitrogen by far the most common element
- oxygen is second most common
- greenhouse gasses are small in amount, but
important!
78% nitrogen

20.6% oxygen

< 1% argon

0.4% water
vapor

0.036% carbon
dioxide

traces gases:
Ne, He, Kr, H, O3
Methane, Nitrous
Oxide
 The “Greenhouse Effect”

 The Earth’s surface receives energy from

two sources: the sun & the atmosphere
– As a result the Earth’s surface is ~33C warmer
than it would be without an atmosphere

 Greenhouse gases are transparent to

shortwave but absorb longwave radiation
– Thus the atmosphere stores energy
The greenhouse effect, discovered by Joseph
Fourier in 1829 and first investigated
quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896, is
the process in which the emission of infrared
radiation by the atmosphere warms a planet’s
surface.
The name comes from an analogy with the
warming of air inside a greenhouse compared
to the air outside the greenhouse.
The Earth's average surface temperature is
about 20-30°C warmer than it would be
without the greenhouse effect. In addition to
the Earth, and especially have greenhouse
effects.
 Known Greenhouse Gases
 Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
– Source: Fossil fuel burning, deforestation
 Anthropogenic increase: 30%

 Average atmospheric residence time: 500 years

 Methane (CH4)
– Source: Rice cultivation, cattle & sheep ranching, decay
from landfills, mining
 Anthropogenic increase: 145%

 Average atmospheric residence time: 7-10 years

 Nitrous oxide (N2O)

– Source: Industry and agriculture (fertilizers)
 Anthropogenic increase: 15%

 Average atmospheric residence time: 140-190 years

CFC’s, O3, H2O vapor

The CO2 Cycle

Sources: volcanism, metamorphism,

respiration, fossil fuel burning,
deforestation

Sinks: photosynthesis, rock

weathering, carbonate deposition,
ocean adsorption
Greenhouse Effect & Global Warming

• The “greenhouse effect” & global

warming are not the same thing.
– Global warming refers to a rise in the
temperature of the surface of the earth

• An increase in the concentration of

greenhouse gases leads to an
increase in the the magnitude of the
greenhouse effect. (Called enhanced
greenhouse effect)
– This results in global warming
 Short-Term Climate Change

• Climate change over short time scales (<1,000,000 years)

• Related to complex, poorly understood interactions
between atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere

Possible Causes
1. Orbital Parameters of the Earth
2. Changes in Atmospheric Composition
3. Changes in Ocean Circulation
4. Sunspot Activity
5. Changes in Reflectivity (albedo)
Radiation is not evenly distributed over the
surface of the earth. The northern latitudes have an
energy deficit and the low latitude/ equator has an
excess. But the low latitudes don’t indefinitely get
hotter and the northern latitudes don’t get colder.

The atmosphere and ocean transfer energy

from low latitudes to high.