Solar Energy and Earth’s Solar Energy and Earth’s Atmosphere Atmosphere

Solar Energy and Earth’s Solar Energy and Earth’s Atmosphere Atmosphere

GPH 111GPH 111

What we cover:What we cover:What we cover:What we cover:

Two classifications of heat energy Layering of earth’s atmosphere General atmospheric density Normal adiabatic lapse rate and

unusual twists Problems that generate pollution

Two classifications of heat energy Layering of earth’s atmosphere General atmospheric density Normal adiabatic lapse rate and

unusual twists Problems that generate pollution

Let’s put the Earth and Let’s put the Earth and Sun into perspective…Sun into perspective…Let’s put the Earth and Let’s put the Earth and Sun into perspective…Sun into perspective…

If the sun’s total energy output for one second was stored in some super duper battery, it would take the US over 9 million years to use it all.

Solar shortwave radiation vs. Earth’s longwave radiation…Solar shortwave radiation vs. Earth’s longwave radiation…

Earth vs. Earth vs. the Sun the Sun energy energy

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Earth vs. Earth vs. the Sun the Sun energy energy

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Layers of the Atmosphere Exercise Time!

Atmospheric Atmospheric Function…Function…

Atmospheric Atmospheric Function…Function…

TroposphereTroposphere

StratosphereStratosphere

MesosphereMesosphere

ThermosphereThermosphere

Outer SpaceOuter Space

Earth’s Atmosphere and Solar Earth’s Atmosphere and Solar EnergyEnergy

Earth’s Atmosphere and Solar Earth’s Atmosphere and Solar EnergyEnergy

<0.001%

>90%

Air Density

Air Pressure

Air Pressure Kittinger and his Balloon

102,800 feet (99% of atmosphere)Accelerated to 614 mphFreefall of 4.5 minutes

Adiabatic Lapse Rates…Adiabatic Lapse Rates…Adiabatic Lapse Rates…Adiabatic Lapse Rates…Through the troposphere, temperature drops with elevation at a normal lapse rate of 6.4 per 1000 m or 3.5 per 1000 feet on average.

The rate of change can vary substantially because of local weather changes

Inversion layers and Inversion layers and Pollution…Pollution…

Inversion layers and Inversion layers and Pollution…Pollution…

Inversion Layers…Inversion Layers…Inversion Layers…Inversion Layers…

With pollution unable to mix in the upper atmosphere during an inversion, this leads to poor visibility and heath issues

Solar Radiation and Solar Radiation and Smog…Smog…

Solar Radiation and Solar Radiation and Smog…Smog…

Smog Production:Car exhaust (NO2, VOCs, CO) and ultraviolet radiation chemically react to generate:Ozone, Peroxyacetyl nitrates (PANs), and Nitric Acid.

Los Angeles and Smog…Los Angeles and Smog…Los Angeles and Smog…Los Angeles and Smog…

Phoenix and Smog…Phoenix and Smog…Phoenix and Smog…Phoenix and Smog…

This is in China… our This is in China… our future?future?

This is in China… our This is in China… our future?future?

Ozone Depletion in the Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere…Stratosphere…

Ozone Depletion in the Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere…Stratosphere…

CFC’s react with Ozone to deplete the good Ozone from the atmosphere

Things to know…Things to know…The difference between short and longwave radiationThe different layers of the atmosphere based on temperatureThe layers where solar energy is absorbedHow inversion layers develop and their affect on pollutionWhat does car exhaust have to interact with to generate pollution?The general cause and effect of ozone loss in the stratosphere

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