1. Radiation and the Earth’s Atmosphere

2. 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

3. The Earth Sun System

4. 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.

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

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

7. 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)

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

10. How much Energy gets through?

11. Molecules responsible for absorption

13. ‘Windows’ of Opportunity

14. The Solar Constant

15. 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.

16. Measuring Energy from the Sun
Lab:
Photos: