Chapter 2 - Energy: Warming the Earth and the Atmosphere

Index of Lecture Notes

• Introduction to energy and heat
  • kinetic energy
  • kinetic energy of air molecules
  • potential energy
  • potential energy converted to kinetic
  • radiant energy
  • internal energy
• temperature scales
• heat capacity and specific heat
• specific heats of different substances
• latent heat - defined
  • latent heats for the water substance
  • latent heats for the water subtance, deposition and sublimation
• heat transfer mechanisms
  • conduction
  • conduction in a metal rod
  • conduction in a metal rod, cont
  • convection
  • convection in the atmosphere - development of a thermal
  • convection in the atmosphere - further development of a thermal
  • convection in the atmosphere - vigorous thermals and thunderstorms
  • radiation
• waves and radiation
• examples of radiation
• amount of radiation emitted by objects
• black-body radiation
  • Stefan-Boltzman law
  • Weins law
  • radiation curves for sun and earth
  • a closer look at the sun's emitted radiation
• radiative equilibrium
  • the earth in radiative equilibrium
  • finding the earths radiative equilibrium temperature with no atmosphere
  • earths radiative equilibrium temperature - its to cold
• interaction of short wave radiation with atmosphere
• interaction of short wave radiation with atmosphere - a spectral view
• interaction of long-wave radiation with the atmosphere
• with atmosphere - radiative equilibrium temperature is higher
• greenhouse effect and global warming
• selective absorption in the atmosphere
• snow as a selective absorber - day time
• snow as a selective absorber - night time
• earth's annual energy budget
• earths energy balance - introduction
  • distribution of incoming solar radiation
  • distribution of outgoing LW radiation
  • distribution of net radiation
  • the resultant heat transport
• radiation and the aurora
• the magnetosphere and magnetotail
• ions colliding with air molecules
• Review Questions
• PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS FOR CH 2
• CH 2 HOMEWORK:  NOTES | PROBLEMS