HW#1_EarthENERGYBUDGET
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School
Simon Fraser University *
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Course
110
Subject
Geography
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
6
Uploaded by LieutenantExploration13521
Daniela Jiménez (00322800)
Climate Change - CRN 3586
September 1
st
, 2023
Global Climate Change: Economics, Science, and Society
Homework #1
1.
Use the numbers given in the annual global energy budget to answer the following questions. a.
In one column, rank from largest to smallest, the radiative sources of heating for the atmosphere. In a second column do the same for the radiative sources of cooling for the atmosphere. Sum the sources of both the heating and cooling. Based on the totals, if there were no other sources of heating and cooling, would the temperature of the atmosphere rise or fall? (2.5 pts)
Radiative sources of heating for the atmosphere
1.
Surface radiation
2.
Solar radiation absorbed by the atmosphere
Radiative sources of cooling for the atmosphere
1.
Back radiation absorbed by surface
2.
Outgoing longwave radiation
1
Sum of the radiative sources of heating:
390
W m
−
2
+
67
W m
−
2
=
457
W m
−
2
Sum of the radiative sources of cooling:
324
W m
−
2
+
235
W m
−
2
=
559
W m
−
2
Sum of heating and cooling radiative sources:
457
W m
−
2
−
559
W m
−
2
=−
102
W m
−
2
Answer:
As the radiative sources of cooling leave the atmosphere, their values are negative. Therefore, if the result that was obtained from the total sum of both heating and cooling sources has a negative value, this means that the temperature of the atmosphere would fall
(if there were no other sources of heating and cooling besides the
ones shown in the picture).
b.
Do the same for the surface. If the only sources of heating and cooling for the surface were radiative, would the temperature of the surface rise or fall? (2.5 pts)
Radiative sources of heating for the surface
1.
Back radiation absorbed by surface
2.
Solar radiation absorbed by surface
Radiative sources of cooling for the surface
1.
Surface radiation
Sum of the radiative sources of heating:
324
W m
−
2
+
168
W m
−
2
=
4 92
W m
−
2
Sum of the radiative sources of cooling:
390
W m
−
2
Sum of heating and cooling radiative sources:
4 92
W m
−
2
−
390
W m
−
2
=
102
W m
−
2
Answer:
As the radiative sources of cooling leave the surface, their values are negative. Therefore, if the result that was obtained from the total sum of both heating and cooling sources has a positive value, this means that the temperature of the surface would rise
(if there were no other sources of heating and cooling besides the ones shown in the picture).
2
c.
What heating/cooling sources make up the deficits for 1) the atmosphere and 2) the surface? (1.5 pts)
To find out what sources make up the deficit (
heating sources =
cooling sources
), we first
look at the values of the heating/cooling sources from the previous task. Then, we determine the values that are needed to equalize all heating and cooling sources for the atmosphere and the surface. 1) Atmosphere:
390
W m
−
2
+
67
W m
−
2
+
…
+
…
=
324
W m
−
2
+
235
W m
−
2
390
W m
−
2
+
67
W m
−
2
+
78
W m
−
2
+
24
W m
−
2
=
324
W m
−
2
+
235
W m
−
2
559
W m
−
2
=
559
W m
−
2
Answer:
The sources that make up the deficit are evapotranspiration (
78
W m
−
2
) and thermals (
24
W m
−
2
) →
heating sources
2) Surface:
324
W m
−
2
+
168
W m
−
2
=
390
W m
−
2
+
…
+
…
324
W m
−
2
+
168
W m
−
2
=
390
W m
−
2
+
78
W m
−
2
+
24
W m
−
2
492
W m
−
2
=
492
W m
−
2
Answer:
The sources that make up the deficit are evapotranspiration (
78
W m
−
2
) and thermals (
24
W m
−
2
) →
cooling sources
d.
What percentage of the incident sunlight is absorbed by the atmosphere? (1.5 pts)
According to the class material:
Incident sunlight absorbed = Solar radiation (downwards) - Reflected solar radiation
Incident sunlight absorbed = 342
W m
−
2
−
107
W m
−
2
∴
Incident sunlight absorbed
=
235
W m
−
2
Percentage of incident sunlight absorbed:
incident sunlight absorbed
solar radiation
(
downwards
)
=
235
W m
−
2
342
W m
−
2
×
100%
=
68.71%
e.
What would happen to the radiation emitted downward by the atmosphere if the concentration of a greenhouse gas was suddenly increased? Explain why. (1pt)
If the concentration of a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere was suddenly increased, it’s more likely to generate a big greenhouse effect. This means that in the presence of this gas, the atmosphere would trap more of the outgoing radiation emitted by the Earth's 3
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