Clouds and the Greenhouse Effect

The global average temperature on Earth is about 15 o C which is 30 o C more than it should be!

- 15 o C (5 o F) This is the calculated temperature of the Earth.

The actual average temperature is 15 o C ( 60 o F)

Let ‘s look at our nearest neighbors in space. Credit: Lunar and Planetary Institute

Venus Image Credit: NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org We cannot see the surface of Venus because of the dense clouds in its atmosphere.

Venus Artist concept of lightning on Venus. Image credit: ESA

Its surface is hotter than the surface of Mercury which is much closer to the sun!

Hot Enough to Melt Lead ! Venus’ Desiccated Atmosphere; an Artists’ Conception. (Credit: The New Scientist).

Mars Image Credit: NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org

Surface of Mars Image Credit: NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org

Mars Image Credit: NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org

Mars’ Temperature Range

What’s Wrong? Venus is far too hot Earth is 30 degrees too hot Mars is close to calculated value

Why are there differences? Certain gasses in the atmosphere absorb heat energy and reduce the amount that escapes into space

Excess Carbon Dioxide

This ‘trapping’ of heat from the sun by the atmosphere is known as the ‘Greenhouse Effect’

The Greenhouse Effect