#2 What are the actual and potential impacts of climate change in BC? part 1

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15 Terms

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Radiation

Electromagnetic waves: classified by

wavelength

• Longwave (LW): lower energy

• Shortwave (SW): higher energy

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the Sun’s energy is emitted in the form of …

of electromagnetic radiation. mostly Shortwave (SW)

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The earths energy (terrestrial)

also emitted in the form of electromagnetic wavelengths. Mostly Long wave

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Stefan-Boltzmann Law of Radiation:

sun: ’m HOT, so I emit LARGE amounts of high intensity energy

Earth: “I’m COOL, so I emit LESSER amounts of energy. plus my ENERGY is at a lower intensity than Mr. Hotshot over there!”

The amount of energy emitted by an object is related to its temperature

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Wein’s Law of Radiation:

Sun: “I’m HOT, so I emit my maximum amount of radiation at SHORTER wavelengths”

SW = visible & ultraviolet (UV)

Earth: I’m COOL, so I emit my maximum amount of radiation at LONGER wavelengths”

LW = infrared (IR) a form of invisible electromagnetic

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Sunmary: Radiation Emissions Spectra for Sun and Earth

☀ The Sun's Radiation (Shortwave)

Peak Wavelength: Around 0.5 microns.
Spectrum Range: Mostly visible light (VIS), with some ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared.
Characteristics: The Sun is extremely hotter. It emits short wavelengths, high frequencies, and higher energy radiation.

🌍 The Earth's Radiation (Longwave)

Peak Wavelength: Around 10 microns.
Spectrum Range: Entirely in the thermal infrared region.
Characteristics: The Earth is much cooler. It emits long wavelengths, low frequencies, and lower energy radiation.

<p><span data-name="sun" data-type="emoji">☀</span><strong> The Sun's Radiation (Shortwave)</strong></p><ul><li><p><span><strong>Peak Wavelength:</strong> Around <strong>0.5 microns</strong>.</span></p></li><li><p><span><strong>Spectrum Range:</strong> Mostly <strong>visible light (VIS)</strong>, with some ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared.</span></p></li><li><p><span><strong>Characteristics:</strong> The Sun is extremely <strong>hotter</strong>. It emits <strong>short wavelengths</strong>, <strong>high frequencies</strong>, and <strong>higher energy</strong> radiation.</span></p></li></ul><p><span data-name="earth_africa" data-type="emoji">🌍</span><strong> The Earth's Radiation (Longwave)</strong></p><ul><li><p><span><strong>Peak Wavelength:</strong> Around <strong>10 microns</strong>.</span></p></li><li><p><span><strong>Spectrum Range:</strong> Entirely in the <strong>thermal infrared</strong> region.</span></p></li><li><p><span><strong>Characteristics:</strong> The Earth is much <strong>cooler</strong>. It emits <strong>long wavelengths</strong>, <strong>low frequencies</strong>, and <strong>lower energy</strong> radiation.</span></p></li></ul><p></p>

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What is Earth’s Average Temperature?

•Earth’s average temperature as a whole is

about -18 degrees C.

•Earth’s average surface temperature is about

15 degrees C

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Earth Greenhouse effect

☀ 1. Incoming Solar Radiation (Shortwave)

Total Incoming: The Sun delivers 343 w/m2 of solar energy to the top of the atmosphere.
Reflection: About 103 w/m2 is immediately reflected back into space by clouds, the atmosphere, and bright surfaces on Earth (like ice).
Atmospheric Passage: The remaining 240 w/m2 passes down through the atmosphere.
Surface Absorption: About half of the original energy, 168 w/m2 , is directly absorbed by the Earth's surface, heating up the land and oceans.

🌍 2. Outgoing Heat Radiation (Longwave)

Thermal Conversion: The absorbed solar energy warms the Earth's surface. The surface then converts this heat and radiates it back upward as longwave infrared radiation.
Greenhouse Gas Trap: Instead of escaping directly into space, greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane) absorb a large portion of this rising infrared radiation.
Re-emission: These gas molecules then re-emit the heat in all directions—including back down toward the Earth's surface, trapping extra warmth in the lower atmosphere.

⚖ 3. The Energy Balance

Final Escape: Eventually, 240 w/m2 of outgoing infrared radiation successfully passes through the atmosphere and escapes into space.
Equilibrium: Because the net incoming solar energy (\(343 - 103 = 240 w/m2 exactly equals the final outgoing infrared radiation (240 w/m2) the planet maintains a stable overall climate balance.

$☀ 1. Incoming Solar Radiation (Shortwave)<ul><li>Total Incoming: The Sun delivers 343 w/m2 of solar energy to the top of the atmosphere.</li><li>Reflection: About 103 w/m2 is immediately reflected back into space by clouds, the atmosphere, and bright surfaces on Earth (like ice).</li><li>Atmospheric Passage: The remaining 240 w/m2 passes down through the atmosphere.</li><li>Surface Absorption: About half of the original energy, 168 w/m2 , is directly absorbed by the Earth's surface, heating up the land and oceans.</li></ul>🌍 2. Outgoing Heat Radiation (Longwave)<ul><li>Thermal Conversion: The absorbed solar energy warms the Earth's surface. The surface then converts this heat and radiates it back upward as longwave infrared radiation.</li><li>Greenhouse Gas Trap: Instead of escaping directly into space, greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane) absorb a large portion of this rising infrared radiation.</li><li>Re-emission: These gas molecules then re-emit the heat in all directions—including back down toward the Earth's surface, trapping extra warmth in the lower atmosphere.</li></ul>⚖ 3. The Energy Balance<ul><li>Final Escape: Eventually, 240 w/m2 of outgoing infrared radiation successfully passes through the atmosphere and escapes into space.</li><li>Equilibrium: Because the net incoming solar energy (\(343 - 103 = 240 w/m2 exactly equals the final outgoing infrared radiation (240 w/m2) the planet maintains a stable overall climate balance.</li></ul>$

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Why is the surface so much warmer than the Earth as a whole?

due to the greenhouse effect. The Trap and Loop: Look at the curved orange arrows at the bottom right. The text states: "Some of the infrared radiation is absorbed and re-emitted by the greenhouse gas molecules."

Double Heating: This means the Earth's surface is not just heated once by the Sun 168 w/m2. It is continuously warmed a second time by heat that was trying to escape but got redirected back down by the atmosphere.

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Selective emission and absorption

Some substances emit and absorb radiation at certain wavelengths only. This is mainly true of gases

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Example: Absorption by atmospheric gases

☀ Incoming Radiation (Left Side)

High Transparency: The atmosphere is highly transparent (near 0 absorption) in the visible light (VIS) spectrum (around 0.4 to 0.7 microns). This allows sunlight to reach and warm the Earth's surface.
UV Protection: Ozone ($O_{3}$) and Oxygen ($O_{2}$) show an absorption value of 1 in the ultraviolet (UV) range. This means they absorb and block harmful high-energy UV rays from reaching the surface.

🌍 Outgoing Radiation (Right Side)

Heat Trapping: The Earth emits longwave infrared (IR) radiation (from 3 to 30+ microns).
The Major Absorbers: Water Vapor ($H_{2}O$) and Carbon Dioxide ($CO_{2}$) have massive red blocks in the IR region, meaning they absorb almost all the outgoing heat at those specific wavelengths.
Other Greenhouse Gases: Methane ($CH_{4}$) and Nitrous Oxide ($N_{2}O$) also have narrow spikes in the IR zone, trapping heat at specific narrow wavelengths.

$☀ Incoming Radiation (Left Side)<ul><li>High Transparency: The atmosphere is highly transparent (near 0 absorption) in the visible light (VIS) spectrum (around 0.4 to 0.7 microns). This allows sunlight to reach and warm the Earth's surface.</li><li>UV Protection: Ozone ($O_{3}$) and Oxygen ($O_{2}$) show an absorption value of 1 in the ultraviolet (UV) range. This means they absorb and block harmful high-energy UV rays from reaching the surface.</li></ul>🌍 Outgoing Radiation (Right Side)<ul><li>Heat Trapping: The Earth emits longwave infrared (IR) radiation (from 3 to 30+ microns).</li><li>The Major Absorbers: Water Vapor ($H_{2}O$) and Carbon Dioxide ($CO_{2}$) have massive red blocks in the IR region, meaning they absorb almost all the outgoing heat at those specific wavelengths.</li><li>Other Greenhouse Gases: Methane ($CH_{4}$) and Nitrous Oxide ($N_{2}O$) also have narrow spikes in the IR zone, trapping heat at specific narrow wavelengths.</li></ul>$

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Greenhouse effect: Warms Earth’s surface

🚫 1. The Big Misconception: The Sun is Not Involved
- The Rule: Look at the white text box on the left: "Notice that the greenhouse effect does NOT involve radiation coming in from the Sun."
- The Reality: Solar radiation (shortwave) passes right through greenhouse gases without being trapped. The greenhouse effect only happens after the Earth absorbs that sunlight and converts it into upward-bound infrared heat (longwave).
🔴 2. Simplified Directions (Up vs. Down)
- The Mechanism: The red circle and red arrows highlight the Greenhouse Gases layer.
- The Simplification: Instead of complex scattered paths, the diagram simplifies GHG behavior into two streams:
  - Up: Some trapped heat is passed along to escape out into space 239 Wm-2.
  - Down: A massive chunk is re-emitted back to the ground as Back Radiation 333 wm-2.
📈 3. The Core Rule: More GHGs = Stronger Warming
- The Takeaway: As human activities add "MORE GHGs," the red circled area gets thicker and more efficient at trapping heat.
- The Result: The Back Radiation arrow (333) will increase, forcing the surface to absorb more heat, which drives up global temperatures and worsens the Net Imbalance 0.9 wm-2.

<ul><li><p><span data-name="no_entry_sign" data-type="emoji">🚫</span><strong> 1. The Big Misconception: The Sun is Not Involved</strong></p><ul><li><p><span><strong>The Rule:</strong> Look at the white text box on the left: <em>"Notice that the greenhouse effect does </em><strong><em>NOT</em></strong><em> involve radiation coming in from the Sun."</em></span></p></li><li><p><span><strong>The Reality:</strong> Solar radiation (shortwave) passes right through greenhouse gases without being trapped. The greenhouse effect <strong>only</strong> happens <em>after</em> the Earth absorbs that sunlight and converts it into upward-bound infrared heat (longwave).</span></p></li></ul><p><span data-name="red_circle" data-type="emoji">🔴</span><strong> 2. Simplified Directions (Up vs. Down)</strong></p><ul><li><p><span><strong>The Mechanism:</strong> The red circle and red arrows highlight the <strong>Greenhouse Gases</strong> layer.</span></p></li><li><p><span><strong>The Simplification:</strong> Instead of complex scattered paths, the diagram simplifies GHG behavior into two streams:</span></p><ul><li><p><span><strong>Up:</strong> Some trapped heat is passed along to escape out into space <strong>239 Wm-2</strong>.</span></p></li><li><p><span><strong>Down:</strong> A massive chunk is re-emitted back to the ground as <strong>Back Radiation</strong> <strong>333 wm-2</strong>.</span></p></li></ul></li></ul><p><span data-name="chart_increasing" data-type="emoji">📈</span><strong> 3. The Core Rule: More GHGs = Stronger Warming</strong></p><ul><li><p><span><strong>The Takeaway:</strong> As human activities add <strong>"MORE GHGs,"</strong> the red circled area gets thicker and more efficient at trapping heat.</span></p></li><li><p><span><strong>The Result:</strong> The <strong>Back Radiation</strong> arrow (333) will increase, forcing the surface to absorb more heat, which drives up global temperatures and worsens the <strong>Net Imbalance 0.9</strong></span><strong> wm-2</strong><span>.</span></p></li></ul></li></ul><p></p>

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What do greenhouse gases do?

The Match: The Earth cools down by sending heat waves out into space. Greenhouse gases vibrate at the exact same frequency as these waves.
The Trap: When a heat wave hits a greenhouse gas molecule, the molecule absorbs the energy, vibrates, and shoots that heat back out in all directions—including right back down to Earth.
The Result: This process keeps the planet much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere.

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We need the Greenhouse Effect!

It is what keeps Earth a comfortable temperature for life

• Without any greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, Earth’s average temperature would be -18 degrees C

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