Radiation and the Earth’s Atmosphere http://telstar.ote.cmu.edu/environ/m3/s2/index.shtml

Ask not what your atmosphere can do for you….. The atmosphere maintains the long-term climate, the short-term weather, and the temperature conditions on Earth. Several factors involved… Energy (from the sun produces the movements or currents) Earth's movement relative to the sun components of the atmosphere components of Earth's surface

The Earth Sun System

The atmosphere can change In the last century especially, this system--which evolved over billions of years--has been subject to rapid changes due to industrial activities increasing at unprecedented rates.

Structure of the Atmosphere An ocean of air Temperature changes Stable layers

The Thermosphere dilemna How can 1,ooo degress feel cool?? What is heat? What is temperature?

Heat and Temperaure Heat is the thermal energy that is transferred from a warmer object to a cooler object. Temperature a number that is related to the average kinetic energy of the molecules Thermosphere: Very few molecules, Moving very fast. They have high temperature (I.e. KE), but not enough of them to transfer much heat (I.e warm up something)

Sun’s emission spectrum The range of wavelengths that fall on top of the Earth's atmosphere Minor amounts of X-ray. Measured as 1370-1380 watts/m2

How much Energy gets through?

Molecules responsible for absorption

‘Windows’ of Opportunity

The Solar Constant

The Energy Lab Problem: How much energy arrives in our school yard from Sun? What to do: Compare our ground level measurement with the 1370 W/m2 at the top of the atmosphere.

Measuring Energy from the Sun Lab: http://csc.gallaudet.edu/soarhigh/SHMA330.HTM Photos: http://sci.gallaudet.edu/Mary/classpics01/elab20014th.html