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change in 1.0C
equals change in 1.8F
short wavelengths
high frequency
long wavelengths
low frequency
Percent IR energy which reaches the Earths surface
50%
Percent visible energy which reaches the Earth’s surface
40%
Percent UV energy which reaches the Earth’s surface
10%
Flux
the amount of energy in an electromagnetic wave that passes perpendicularly through a unit surface area per unit time
Stefan-Boltzmann Law
The amount of energy radiated is proportional to the temperature of the object raised to the fourth power
Wien’s Law
The hotter the object, the shorter the wavelength of the emitted energy
Inverse Square Law
When distance from an energy source doubles, the intensity decreases by a factor of 1/4
Earth’s current albedo
0.3
Temperature of the Earth without greenhouse gases
-18C
Observed temperature of Earth with greenhouse gases
15C
Units out of 100 solar radiation reflected by atmosphere
30
Units out of 100 of solar radiation absorbed by atmosphere
25
Units out of 100 solar radiation absorbed by Earth
45
Total units out of 100 emitted back to space by Earth
70
Negative feedback loop
Stable system which resists change following a perturbation
Positive feedback loop
Unstable system which changes further following a perturbation
Forcing
Persistent disturbance of a system
Perturbation
Temporary disturbance of a system
Time delays
Cause negative feedback loops to take too long and a tipping point is reached
Unstable Equilibrium State
Shifts to a new stable state when pushed by a perturbation
Stable equilibrium state
Returns to the original state when pushed by a perturbation
CO2, CH4, H2O
Greenhouse gases abundant on early Earth
Volcanoes
Supplied CO2 to early Earth
Produced by volcanoes and biological processes
CH4 on the early Earth
H2O
Greenhouse gas which is self regulating
The uplift of the Himalayas
Triggered the Cenozoic cooling period by exposing rock which consumed atmospheric CO2 when weathered
Carbonate Silicate cycle
Moves atmospheric CO2 by subducting precipitated carbonates in the ocean over 100-200 million years
Methane had a longer lifetime in the early Earth atmosphere
Due to lower oxygen levels
Anti-Greenhouse Effect
When organic haze caused by an overabundance of methane leads to cooling by blocking sunlight from reaching the surface.
Decreased atmospheric methane and triggered the Paleoproterozoic glaciations after 2.4 BY
Oxygen levels rising
Suess Effect
Global atmospheric levels of 14C and 13C declining due to the burning of fossil fuels
The atmospheric CO2 level before the industrial revolution
280 ppm
The atmospheric CO2 level today
428 ppm
Photosynthesis
Drives the biological pump in surface waters
Respiration
Drives the biological pump in deep waters
Apheloin
Earth is furthest from the sun in orbit
Perihelion
Earth is closest to the sun in orbit
The pull of other planets
Makes eccentricity vary
Eccentricity
Orbit shape
Obliquity
Tilt
Precession
wobble
Present North Star
Polaris
North Star 13,000 year ago, on the other side of precession
Vega
Conditions for glaciation
Low obliquity or seasonal contrast, high eccentricity or long winters, and cold Northern hemisphere summers
Conditions for deglaciation
High obliquity or seasonal contrast, low eccentricity or short winters, and hot Northern hemisphere summers
Causes wind
uneven heating of the earth’s surface
ITCZ
Intertropical Convergence Zone
Direction wind is deflected in the Northern Hemisphere
left, counterclockwise
Direction wind is deflected in the Southern Hemisphere
right, clockwise
Coriolis Effect is caused by
rotation of the Earth
Easterlies or trade winds
Name of winds in the tropics
Westerlies
Name of winds in the midlatitudes
Continentality
Higher variation of climate extremes over land than over oceans