ATOC 4720 class27 Radiative transfer in global energy balance The globally averaged atmospheric energy balance

1. Radiative transfer in global energy balance Planck’s law: Stefan-Boltzmann’s law: Wien’s displacement law: Kirchhoff’s law:

Effect of atmosphere on radiation Scattering:

Reflection

Longwave emission

Processes important for energy balance Scattering of solar radiation by clouds (albedo); Absorption of solar radiation by gases (O3 upper atmosphere and H2O lower atmosphere);[photodissociation] Absorption of terrestrial radiation by gaseous constituents (CO2, H2O, O3): green house effect; Absorption of terrestrial radiation by clouds, enhance green house effects; [example]

2. The globally averaged atmospheric energy balance Blackboard demonstration: see class notes for detail.