Week 4 - ICCR

What is the solar constant equal to?

Sun diameter + Temperature + Distance from Sun to Earth

Why was the temperature that we predicted low?

We ignored greenhouse gases

Does air have weight?

Yes! It is heavy! Discovered by Pascal

When thinking about the atmosphere, does pressure push up or dowm

Up (this is equal to pressure x area)

What is pushing down against the pressure pushing up?

Mass (of the gas) and gravity

What is the equation for calculating water or air at rest?

PA = Mg (or M/A = P/g)

What does each letter correspond to in the equation PA = Mg

Pressure, Area, Mass, Gravity

How do you find the mass of a gas?

Take the ratio of gas(want) / 29 (air’s molecular weight) and then multiply this ratio by the volume

What is the equation to find the difference in pressure at the surface vs the temperature a bit up?

P(B) - P(T) = ρ x g x Δz

What is the units on the equation to find the difference in pressure at the surface vs the temperature a bit up?

Hecto pascals

Do hurricanes have more or less warmth then the air around them?

Less

Why do hurricanes have less warmth than the air around them?

This is because the air is less dense which means the air will be less warm

Is the pressure outside a building and inside a building the same?

Yes, due to buildings leaking air and pressure liking to equalize

Does air pressure increase or decrease the higher up you go in the atmosphere and deeper you go in water?

Air pressure decreases the higher up you go in the atmosphere and increases the deeper you go in the water

How much more dense is water than air?

1000x more dense (remains constant no matter the depth in the ocean)

What is the literal definition of hydrostatic?

Hydro means fluid and static means no acceleration

What can the hydrostatic formula be used for?

Both water and air

Why is the equation S x pi²(1-A) = 4 x pi² x σ x T^4 used to calculate the Earth’s energy budget?

This equation is used because equilibrium is achieve when what is given off is equal to what is gained. For Earth to be in equilibrium for its radiation, it has to give off and receive the same amount of radiation. So both sides of the formula should be equal to one another

The higher the temperature of an object, the _________?

More radiation it gives off

What is the symbol for wavelength?

lamda (λ)

Lamda or wavelength represents what?

The distance between the crest of one wave to the crest of the next one

As temperature/radiation increases, what happens to the height of the wave?

Becomes steeper

How can we characterize these Blackbody curves

The highest wave is the highest temperature, and then the waves go dwon and decrease in temperature. The flatter waves are a lower temperature and longer whereas the taller ones are hotter and shorter

What is Wien’s Law?

The higher the temperature, the shorter the wavelength

What is the range of light that humans can see?

0.4 - 0.7 microns

Due to the Stefan Boltzmann Law, if you double the temperature ________

You increases the power by a factor of 16

The higher the temperature, _______ radiation it gives off

the more

If we want to find the radiation hitting the Earth the formula is?

Sπr²(1-A)

For the radiation hitting the Earth formula, what does each part represent

S - solar constant

pi x r² = area of the circle the shadow makes

(1 - A)

The amount of radiation that ISNT reflected off the Earth

What equation can be used to measure the radiation that the Earth gives off?

4πr²σT^4

What does each part of the equation that is used to measure the radiation that the Earth gives off mean?

4πr² - Area of a sphere (earth is a sphere)

σT^4 - Stefan Boltzmann Law

What is the energy budget equation?

Sπr²(1-A) = 4πr²σT⁴ 

Why is this the Earth Energy Bucket Equation

Equilibrium is achieved when what is given off is equal to what is gained. So for Earth to be in equilibrium for its radiation, it has to give off and receive the same amount of radiation.

What wavelengths get into the Earth?

Shorter wavelengths

Where does the greenhouse gas effect happen?

All planets

Where is the greenhouse gas effect much stronger?

Venus

What determines what is and what is not a greenhouse gas?

If it can absorb and emit infrared radiation

What is the characteristics of a greenhouse gas?

Needs to rotate/vibrate, needs to break symmetry, and needs a dipole moment

_______ is the distance between the crest of one wave to the crest of the next one

Wavelength

T/F: The higher the temperature of an object, the more radiation it gives off

True

What is system analysis?

A study of a complicated system with inputs and outputs

Why is Venus’ greenhouse gas effect so much stronger than Earth’s

It is much larger

T/F: The Solar Constant will always be the same?

True

What is the highest peak according to Wien’s Law?

5500 K