B2- The greenhouse effect (178-184)

albedo

total reflected power divided by total incident power

Black body

A physical body that absorbs/reflects all incident electromagnetic radiation

Stefan Boltzmann law

Applies to all black bodies

• L=σAT

T is to the power of 4

the constant e

emissivity of the surface

emissivity

The ratio of the power per unit aria radiated by a body to the power per unit area radiated by a black body of the same temperature

intensity

the power of radiation received or emitted per unit area

solar constant

the intensity of the solar radiation at the top of the earth’s atmosphere, equalt to about 1400Wm^-2

the greenhouse effect

The warming of the Earth caused by infrared radiation, emitted by the Earth’s surface, which is absorbed by various gases in the Earth’s atmosphere and is then partly re-radiated towards the surface

enhanced greenhouse effect

additional warming due to increased quantities of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The increases in the gas concentrations are due to human activity and are closely related to the burning of fossil fuels