Planetary Energy Balance
We the global energy balance by considering solar and thermal radiation and its fate in passing through the Earth’s atmosphere. The concept of the greenhouse effect and is ability to inhibit outgoing thermal radiation from escaping directly to space is explained and examined using a simple energy balance model.
Readings
Class Notes
Key Concepts
Definitions
Lecture Videos
We the global energy balance by considering solar and thermal radiation and its fate in passing through the Earth’s atmosphere. The concept of the greenhouse effect and is ability to inhibit outgoing thermal radiation from escaping directly to space is explained and examined using a simple energy balance model.
Readings
- Primer on Global Energy Balance
- B&H: Chapter 2 pp 14-29
Class Notes
- Abbreviated Lecture Notes
- Solving for global surface temperature
- Wiens law and Stefan-Boltzmann equations
- Equations for global energy balance
Key Concepts
- How does the greenhouse effect work?
- What are the differences between the energy budget at the top of the atmosphere and at the surface?
Definitions
- albedo
- Wiens Law and Stefan Boltzmann Law
Lecture Videos
I walk though an example of estimating global surface temperature using a 1-D energy balance model.