SCI201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Radiative Forcing, Energy Flux, Aurora

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Science
• Course: SCI201
• Professor: Yuri Leonenko

Document Summary

Qualitative - simple explanation, underlying concepts and theories. Quantitiative - quantify data to generalize results, numerical calculations. Our current model only accounts for radiation, but there is convection and conducting occurring too. In reality is made of multiple layers and is very complex. Each layer has different properties (like temperature, pressure, and gas composition) Can emit oxygen as aurora borealis (northern lights) Most air particles are near the surface of the globe. Only 10% of the atmosphere is above 15km in altitude. Computers can simulate numerous layer models with specific temperatures, pressures and emissivity. Solar constant: is not actually constant, it can change over time and depends on certain variables. Albedo: is not constant since clouds, aerosols, and ice overage are all changing. Reflects flux away, causing temperature to decrease (therefore negative radiative forcing) Emissivity/absorptivity: can be changed depending on the green house gas composition in the atmosphere. Changing any of these variables result in a change in earths temperature.