MORNING!

LECTURE 3. The Atmosphere and The Solar

Radiation and Earth’s Energy Balance.

Prepared by:
Capuno & Moncayo
MORNING!
LECTURE 3. The Atmosphere and The Solar
Radiation and Earth’s Energy Balance.

Prepared by:
Capuno & Moncayo
• Is nearest the surface of the Earth
• Altitude: 6.5°C per 1,000 m (3.6°F per
1,000 ft.)
• About 75-80% of the atmosphere is in the
troposphere.
• The temperature is also higher near the
surface because of the greater density of
gases. The higher gravity causes the
temperature to rise.
• In the stratosphere, temperature increases with
altitude.
• The direct heat source for the stratosphere is
the Sun.
• Has stable air because warmer, less dense air
sits over cooler, denser air.
• The ozone layer is found within the stratosphere
between 15 to 30 km (9 to 19 miles) altitude.
• Pilots like to fly in the lower portions of the
stratosphere because there is little air
turbulence.
• Temperatures decrease with altitude.
• Because there are few gas molecules in
the mesosphere to absorb the Sun’s
radiation, the heat source is the
stratosphere below.
• Is extremely cold, especially at its top,
about -90°C (-130°F).
• The air in the mesosphere has extremely
low density: 99.9% of the mass of the
atmosphere is below the mesosphere,
hence the very low air pressure.
• The International Space Station (ISS) orbits within the
upper part of the thermosphere, at about 320 to 380 km
above the Earth.
• The density of molecules is so low in the thermosphere
that one gas molecule can go about 1 km before it
collides with another molecule.
• Within the thermosphere is the ionosphere; wherein its
name comes from the solar radiation that ionizes gas
molecules to create a positively charged ion and one or
more negatively charged electrons.
• The Van Allen radiation belts are two doughnut-shaped
zones of highly charged particles that are located
beyond the atmosphere in the magnetosphere.
• The permanent gasses whose percentages do not
change from day to day are nitrogen for 78% of
the atmosphere, oxygen 21% and argon 0.9%.
• Gasses like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides,
methane, and ozone are trace gasses that
account for about a tenth of one percent of the
atmosphere.
• Water vapor is unique in that its concentration
varies from 0-4% of the atmosphere depending on
where you are and what time of the day it is.
• In the cold, dry arctic regions water vapor
usually accounts for less than 1% of the
atmosphere, while in humid, tropical regions
water vapor can account for almost 4% of the
atmosphere.
• It is a measure of the atmosphere's
tendency to encourage or deter vertical
motion, and vertical motion is directly
correlated to different types of
weather systems and their severity.
• Absolutely Unstable
• Conditionally Unstable
• Absolutely Stable
• Condensation is the process by which water
vapor in the air is changed into liquid water.
• Condensation nuclei - dust, carbon particles,
pollen particles, (tiny particles).

CLOUDS
• Mass of small water droplets or tiny ice
crystals that float in the air.
• Formed when the temperature of the air is
below the dew point.
 DRIZZLE.
Walking on the busy street of the city of
Tanauan, where the sun hides behind the
clouds, captures a good cinematic
photograph of the road. The mood
highlights the city and vehicle lights, and
ultimately, the reflection of the gray
clouds through the puddles.

Taken August 8, 2019, at 6:01 pm

 AWAY FROM THE BUSTLE.
Taking a much-needed break from what happened
to be a nerve-wracking academic semester, I
strolled around Tanauan’s hidden gem, Wawa,
which has a stunning view of Taal Lake, one of the
nation's premier tourist destinations. Fortunate
enough to be in the right place at the right time, I
captured the most picturesque sundown — which
says that every sunset is an opportunity to reset.

Taken January 7, 2023, at 5:35 pm

 VIBRANCE.
No filter needed! The best way to destress
after a very handful of engineering
courses is to have an early Christmas
shopping spree. I guess the cloudless sky
just adapted my overall mood and aura—
vibrant!

Taken December 15, 2022, at 11:21 pm

 UNDER A PAINTED SKY.
On a damp day, after perspiring easy-earned
fats during the pandemic through playing
volleyball, a seemingly painted sky from an art
gallery appeared. It blessed our eyes and tired
bodies — a canvas of grace. Indeed, a gorgeous
sunset needs cloudy skies. It certainly deserved
a photograph!

Taken April 23, 2020, at 6:21 pm

 SHADES OF DOWNPOUR.
After immersing ourselves in the city’s
hubbub, we went to Victory Mall rooftop to
catch the afternoon glow after a torrential
downpour affecting our whole locality. Sunset
is always a sight to see, wherever you are,
whatever the weather is.

Taken November 4, 2023, at 5:10 pm

 THE FLOATING SANDBAR.
Having to bathe in the sun's early morning
sunshine is one of the best things you can do to
your overall well-being. As me and my friends
walked around in Batangas City’s Community Park
on an early blissful morning, we had captured a
perfect-shaped layer of cloud. Uniform, flat, and
seemingly precipitation-free.

Taken February 1, 2023, at 6:29 am

HIGH CLOUDS
• Made of ice crystals due to the cold air in the
upper sky.
• The base of a high cloud above the surface can
be anywhere from 6000- 18000M in the tropics
to 3000-8000M in the polar regions.
MIDDLE CLOUDS
• Middle clouds are made of ice crystals and
water droplets.
• The base of a middle cloud above the surface
can be anywhere from 2000-8000m in the
tropics to 2000-4000m in the polar regions.

LOW CLOUDS
• Low clouds consist of water droplets.
• The base of a low cloud is from the ground
surface to 2000m.
 CIRROSTRATUS
CIRRUS • They are sheet-like thin CIRROCUMULUS
• They are composed clouds that usually cover • They are small rounded
entirely of ice and the entire sky. puffs that usually appear
consist of long, thin, • Usually come 12-24 hours in long rows.
wispy streamers. before a rain or • Are usually seen in the
• Are usually white and snowstorm. wintertime and indicate
predict fair weather. fair, but cold weather.
 ALTOCUMULUS
• They are grayish-white with
one part of the cloud
darker than the other; it
ALTOSTRATUS usually forms in groups and
• An altostratus cloud is about 1 km thick.
usually covers the whole • If you see altocumulus
sky and has a gray or clouds on a warm humid
blue-gray appearance. morning, then expect
• Usually forms ahead of thunderstorms by late
storms with continuous afternoon.
rain or snow.
 STRATOCUMULUS
STRATUS • These clouds are low, NIMBOSTRATUS
• They are uniform gray in lumpy, and gray. • They are dark dray with a
color and can cover most • Only light precipitation, ragged base.
or all of the sky. generally in the form of • Nimbostratus clouds are
• Light mist or drizzle is drizzle, occurs with associated with
sometimes associated stratocumulus clouds. continuous rain or snow.
with stratus clouds.
 CUMULONIMBUS
• They are generally known
as thunderstorm clouds and
CUMULUS can grow up to 10km high.
• Are puffy white or light gray • Cumulonimbus clouds are
clouds that look like floating associated with heavy rain,
cotton balls; they have sharp snow hail, lightning, and
outlines and a flat base. tornadoes.
• Generally have a base height
of 1000m and a width of
1km. Cumulus Humulis clouds
are associated with fair
weather while Cumulus
Congestus clouds are usually
associated with bad weather.
 KEVIN-HELMHOLTZ
LENTICULAR MAMMATUS
• Kelvin-Helmhotz clouds look
• Lenticular clouds form on like breaking waves in the • Mammatus clouds are
the downwind side of ocean. pouches of clouds that
mountains. • These clouds form when there hang underneath the base
• Air moves up and over a is a difference in the wind of a cloud.
mountain, and at the speed or direction between • They are usually seen with
point where the air goes two wind currents in the cumulonimbus clouds that
past the mountaintop the atmosphere. produce very strong
lenticular cloud forms. storms.
CONTRAILS
• Contrails are clouds that form
when water vapor condenses
and freezes around small
particles that exist in aircraft
exhaust.
• Last longer when there is a
greater amount of water in the
air; they last until the water in
the clouds evaporates.
 PERSISTENT SPREADING
SHORT-LIVED
• These contrails form when a
• If the air is somewhat persistent contrail spreads
moist, a contrail will out as they grow wider and
form right behind the fuzzier as time passes.
airplane and make a • Sometimes contrails will take
bright white line that on the characteristics of a
lasts for a short while. natural cirrus cloud and no
longer look like contrails, so
they become human-made
clouds.
PERSISTENT NON-SPREADING
• This type of contrail will
stay in the sky long after
the airplane has flown out
of sight.
• It can last for a few
minutes or longer than a
day, and it keeps its shape
of a thin line.
RADIATION &
’
BALANCE
CLIMATE
• Is the average or typical state of the
weather at a particular location and time
of year.
• Its description includes the average of
such variables as temperature, humidity,
windiness, cloudiness, precipitation,
visibility, and the expected range of the
deviations of these variables from the
mean.
 LAND MASSES
affect the flow of atmosphere and
oceans through their morphology,
the hydrological cycle, and their

HYDROSPHERE radiative properties as matter

blown by the winds or ejected
CRYOSPHERE
including the oceans and all other the ice component of the climate
from earth's interior in volcanic
reservoirs of water in liquid form, system, whether on land or at the
eruptions.
which are the main source of ocean's surface, that plays a
moisture for precipitation and which special role in the Earth radiation
exchange gasses and particles. balance and in determining the
properties of the deep ocean.

ATMOSPHERE BIOTA
all forms of life - that through
the fast-responding medium which respiration and other chemical
surrounds us and immediately interactions affects the
affects our condition. composition and physical
properties of air and water.
 ENERGY FROM THE SUN

• The energy that drives the climate system comes from

the sun.
• When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth it is partially
absorbed in different parts of the climate system.
• The absorbed energy is converted back to heat, which
causes the Earth to warm up and makes it habitable.
• Solar radiation is uneven in both space and time and
this gives rise to the intricate pattern and seasonal
variation of our climate.
THE SUN AND ITS ENERGY
• The sun is the star located at the center of our
planetary system. It is composed mainly of hydrogen
and helium.
• In the Sun's interior, a thermonuclear fusion reaction
converts the hydrogen into helium releasing huge
amounts of energy.
• Solar radiation occurs over a wide range of
wavelengths.
 THE PHYSICS OF RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER

• Is independent of the presence of matter. It can move heat

even through empty space.
• All bodies emit radiation and the wavelength (frequency) and
energy characteristics (spectrum) of that radiation are
determined solely by the body's temperature.
• The energy flux drops as the square of distance from the
radiating body.
• Radiation goes through a transformation when it encounters
other objects (solid, gas or liquid). That transformation
depends on the physical properties of that object, and it is
through this transformation that radiation can transfer heat
from the emitting body to the other objects.
 RADIATION TRANSFER FROM
SUN TO EARTH
Properties of Solar Radiation
• The Sun is located at the center of
our Solar System, at a distance of
about 150 X 106 kilometers from
earth.
• With a surface temperature of 5780 K
(Degrees Kelvin = degrees C +
273.15), the energy flux at the
surface of the Sun is approximately
63 X 106 W/M2 which is at the center
of the visible part of the spectrum.
 RADIATION TRANSFER FROM
SUN TO EARTH
Solar Radiation on Earth
• As the Sun's energy spreads through
space its spectral characteristics do
not change because space contains
almost no interfering matter. However,
the energy flux drops monotonically as
the square of the distance from the
Sun.
• Thus, when the radiation reaches the
outer limit of the Earth's atmosphere,
several hundred kilometers over the
Earth's surface, the radiative flux is
approximately 1360 W/M2.
 EFFECTS OF ORBIT’S SHAPE
• The radiation at the top of the
atmosphere varies by about 3.5%
over the year, as the Earth spins
around the Sun.
• The annual average radiative
solar flux at the top of the Earth's
atmosphere (=1360 W/m2) is
sometimes referred to as the
Solar Constant because it has
changed by no more than a few
percent over the recent history of
the Earth
EFFECT OF EARTH’S AXIS &
THE SEASONS
• The Earth is a sphere and aside
from the part closest to the sun,
where the rays of sunlight are
perpendicular to the ground, its
surface tilts with respect to the
incoming rays of energy with the
regions furthest away aligned in
parallel to the radiation and thus
receiving no energy at all.
 THE TILT OF THE EARTH’S
AXIS & THE SEASONS
North Central Pole
Axial Tilt Rotation Axis
Celestial Equator
Ecliptic
South Celestial Pole
• The Earth axis tilts at an angle of 23.5° with respect to its plane
of orbit, pointing towards a fixed point in space as it travels
around the sun.
• Once a year, on the Summer Solstice (on or about the 21st of
June), the North Pole points directly towards the Sun and the
South Pole is entirely hidden from the incoming radiation.
• Half a year from that day, on the Winter Solstice (on or about the
21st of December) the North Pole points away from the Sun and
does not receive any sunlight while the South Pole receives 24
hours of continued sunlight.
• During Solstices, incoming radiation is perpendicular to the Earth
surface on either the latitude of Cancer or the latitude of
Capricorn, 23.5° north or south of the equator, depending on
whether it is summer or winter in the Northern Hemisphere,
respectively.
• During the spring and fall (on the equinox days, the 21st of March
and 23rd of September) the Earth's axis tilts in parallel to the sun
and both polar regions get the same amount of light. At that time
the radiation is largest at the true equator.
ENERGY FROM EARTH AND EARTH’S TEMPERATURE

THE EARTH’S ALBEDO

• Depends on the geographical location, surface
properties, and the weather.
• The Earth's albedo is about 0.3. This fraction of
incoming radiation is reflected into space. The other
0.7 part of the incoming solar radiation is absorbed by
our planet.
LOCAL AND SEASONAL
EFFECTS ON CLIMATE
• Bodies of water and topographic features such as
mountain ranges can affect local climates
• Ocean currents can influence climate in coastal areas
• Mountain effects rainfall greatly
WATER AND LAND HEAT &
COOL OFF VERY DIFFERENTLY
• Differences in the heating and cooling rates of land and water cause
the breezes called the daily monsoons.
• During daytime, dense, cool air over the water moves toward the
land and forces warm air over the land to go up; called sea breeze.
• At night, the land usually gets cooler than the nearby waters, the
cool air moves over the warmer and forces warm air to go up; called
land breeze.
• Mountain regions also have their “daily monsoons”, called the
mountain breeze and the valley breeze.
• Temperature is an objective comparative measure of hot or
cold.
• It is measured by a thermometer, which may work through
the bulk behavior of a thermometric material, detection of
thermal radiation, or particle kinetic energy.
• The coldest theoretical temperature is absolute zero, at
which the thermal motion in matter would be zero.
• The latitude of the location determines how much solar
radiation is received. Latitude influences the angle of
incidence and duration of day length
• Surface Properties
Substance Specific Heat
Water 1.00
Air 0.24
Granite 0.19
Sand 0.19
Iron 0.11
• Solar radiation warms an extensive layer
in water; on land, just the immediate
surface is heated.
• Water is easily mixed by the process of
convection.
• Evaporation of water removes energy
from water's surface.
• Thermometers and temperature scales go back at
least as far as the early 18th century, when Gabriel
Fahrenheit adapted a thermometer (switching to
mercury) and a scale both developed by Ole
Christensen Romer.
• Fahrenheit's scale is still in use in the United States
for non-scientific applications.
• The basic unit of temperature in the International
System of Units (SI) is Kelvin. It has the symbol K.
Conversion of Units
!