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ABE 137 Greenhouse Effect GW
ABE 137 Greenhouse Effect GW
The Atmosphere,
Greenhouse Effect and
Global Warming
What is the physical structure of the atmosphere?
- multi-layered, with little chemical interaction
- most of the mass is near the surface
Atmospheric
Pressure
Decreases
With Height
Above 99%
Most of the
energy is
captured
close to the Above 90%
surface
drives
climate and
weather Pressure (mb)
Thermosphere/Ionosphere
Mesosphere
(UV Rays, cosmic rays, meteors)
(Ozone Maximum)
Stratosphere
Temperature
What is the chemical structure of the
atmosphere?
- nitrogen by far the most common element
- oxygen is second most common
- greenhouse gasses are small in amount, but
important!
78% nitrogen
20.6% oxygen
< 1% argon
0.4% water
vapor
0.036% carbon
dioxide
traces gases:
Ne, He, Kr, H, O3
Methane, Nitrous
Oxide
The “Greenhouse Effect”
Methane (CH4)
– Source: Rice cultivation, cattle & sheep ranching, decay
from landfills, mining
Anthropogenic increase: 145%
Possible Causes
1. Orbital Parameters of the Earth
2. Changes in Atmospheric Composition
3. Changes in Ocean Circulation
4. Sunspot Activity
5. Changes in Reflectivity (albedo)
Radiation is not evenly distributed over the
surface of the earth. The northern latitudes have an
energy deficit and the low latitude/ equator has an
excess. But the low latitudes don’t indefinitely get
hotter and the northern latitudes don’t get colder.