Energy Drives the Earth System Radioactive decay at core is released into the mantle, fueling volcanos, driving plate movement (Integrated science C/D year)

Energy Flow Drives the Earth System www.bewellbuzz.com UV, visible, IR from sun penetrate the atmosphere, warming oceans & land, converted by plants into organic fuel Intro video

Energy takes various forms MECHANICAL

Energy is used to do work Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted to light energy. Bioluminescence may be generated by symbiotic organisms carried within a larger organism. the pigment luciferin is oxidised by the enzyme luciferase. (The terms luciferin and luciferase are generic terms rather than the names of particular chemicals. Lots of different substances can act like luciferins and luciferases, depending on the species of the bioluminescent life form. Ninety percent of deep-sea marine life is estimated to produce bioluminescence in one form or another. TED bioluminescence

Chemical Reactions Transform Energy Endergonic rxn Energy input building molecules stores energy as calories Exergonic rxn Energy is released breaking down molecules releases heat, ATP Light a match, melt some ice

The energy into a rxn = the energy at completion The universe is a closed system regarding both energy and matter The energy into a rxn = the energy at completion

Energy form is not constant Energy is transformed at every step

Ex: Photosynthesis Energy in energy out Matter in Matter out Both matter and energy are conserved Both matter and energy are transformed

heat heat heat heat transformed into sugars by plants (photosynthesis) sugars transformed to ATP by organisms (respiration) heat heat heat Heat at every step! Nuclear fusion in the sun produces radiant energy

One transformation you can count on! heat heat heat Always some energy transformed into heat Heat is a dead end; lost to atmosphere, little use Therefore, although energy is conserved, the system needs the constant input from the sun Heat at every step!

The Ins & Outs of Solar Energy

The Ins & Outs of Solar Energy http://earsi.com/ggp01.htm 99% 30% 20% 50%

Is > than the amount of energy The amount of that hits of Earths surface in 1 hour Is > than the amount of energy used by in a year. The amount of sunlight 1 m3

Solar Energy Varies by Wavelength reflected absorbed reflected We hear radio waves in the atmosphere because we generate them! EM Song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjOGNVH3D4Y

terrestrial radiation solar radiation terrestrial radiation • shorter wavelength 0.4 – 1.5μm visible • absorbed by land, water heats the earth • radiated from earth • longer wavelength 4-25μm infrared (heat) • absorbed by greenhouse gases heats the troposphere CH4 H20

Long IR waves are absorbed/re-reradiated around the troposphere, keeping heat in

The sun heats the earth, the earth heats the air absorbed solar radiation terrestrial radiation 0.4 – 1.5μm 4-25 μm

Thus, the troposphere acts as a blanket, keeping the earth comfortably warm

Just like in a greenhouse… …or in your car

Mars • 0.01x of the density of Earth’s atmosphere Venus • 90x density of Earth’s atmosphere Both are >95% Co2 -63C (-81 F) Too cold! 496° C (873° F) Too hot!