1. ATOC 4720 class28
The global energy balance at the earth’s surface

2. In previous class, we obtained
Atmospheric moist static energy, which is
sum of its enthalpy
gravitational potential energy
Latent heat content
Good diagnostic variable for convection

3. Atmospheric energy balance
For global atmosphere, long-term mean, the
moist static Energy is not systematically
changing; therefore:
It follows that
Heat sources and sinks are balanced

4. The energy balance at the earth’s surface

5. Globally and time-averaged net upward fluxes
of moist Static energy per unit area from
the earth’s surface is given by:
Net irradiance
Sensible heat flux
Latent heat flux
Explain each on board.
Net irradiance: Downward-Upward
Sensible heat flux: atm boundary layer turbulence mixing
& thermal conduction at the earth’s surface
Latent heat flux: latent heat release due to evaporation
of water from the earth’s surface;

6. : net irradiance can be divided into short
and long wave part
Each term order:
Next, we’ll see whether for long term mean
and global mean, whether

7. Energy conservation requires that:
Combined internal, potential, kinetic, chemical,
And nuclear energy of solid earth, oceans,
Polar ice caps, and the biosphere

8. Burning of fossil fuel and fission in nuclear reactors:
Release energy (average)
Leakage of geothermal energy (crust):
Global mean ocean SST increase: very small (long term mean)
[explain]
Ice sheet changes:

9. IR rad
latent
21%
23%
7% sen