Solar Energy and Earths Atmosphere GPH 111 What

Solar Energy and Earth’s Atmosphere GPH 111

What we cover: w Two classifications of heat energy w Layering of earth’s atmosphere w General atmospheric density w Normal adiabatic lapse rate and unusual twists w Problems that generate pollution

Let’s put the Earth and Sun into perspective… If the sun’s total energy output for one second was stored in some super duper battery, it would take the US over 9 million years to use it all.

Solar shortwave radiation vs. Earth’s longwave radiation…

Earth vs. the Sun energy breakdown Layers of the Atmosphere Exercise Time!

Outer Space Thermosphere Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere Atmospheric Function…

Earth’s Atmosphere and Solar Energy <0. 001% Air Density >90%

Air Pressure Kittinger and his Balloon 102, 800 feet (99% of atmosphere) Accelerated to 614 mph Freefall of 4. 5 minutes

Adiabatic Lapse Rates… Through the troposphere, temperature drops with elevation at a normal lapse rate of 6. 4 per 1000 m or 3. 5 per 1000 feet on average. The rate of change can vary substantially because of local weather changes

Inversion layers and Pollution…

Inversion Layers… With pollution unable to mix in the upper atmosphere during an inversion, this leads to poor visibility and heath issues

Solar Radiation and Smog… Smog Production: Car exhaust (NO 2, VOCs, CO) and ultraviolet radiation chemically react to generate: Ozone, Peroxyacetyl nitrates (PANs), and Nitric Acid.

Los Angeles and Smog…

Phoenix and Smog…

This is in China… our future?

Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere… CFC’s react with Ozone to deplete the good Ozone from the atmosphere

Things to know… The difference between short and longwave radiation The different layers of the atmosphere based on temperature The layers where solar energy is absorbed How inversion layers develop and their affect on pollution What does car exhaust have to interact with to generate pollution? The general cause and effect of ozone loss in the stratosphere Help: Chapter ER