Chapter 4Atmosphere and Surface Energy

Balances

Robert W. ChristophersonCharlie Thomsen

Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances

Energy Essentials  

Energy Balance in the Troposphere  

Energy Balance at Earth’s Surface  

Energy Essentials Energy Pathways and Principles 

Shortwave energy in from the Sun

Longwave energy out from Earth

TransmissionPassage of energy through atmosphere or water

Energy Pathways

Figure 4.1

Energy PathwaysInsolation input

All radiation received at Earth’s surface – direct and indirect

ScatteringChanging direction of light’s movement, without altering its wavelengths

RefractionChange in speed and direction of light

Insolation at Earth’s Surface

Figure 4.2

Refraction

Figure 4.4

Energy PrinciplesAlbedo and reflection

Clouds, aerosols, and the atmosphere’s albedo

Absorption

Albedo

Figure 4.5

July and January Albedos

Figure 4.6

Clouds and Albedo

Figure 4.7

Atmospheric Aerosols

Figure 4.8

Heat TransferConduction

Molecule-to-molecule transfer

ConvectionEnergy transferred by movement

AdvectionHorizontally dominant movement

RadiationEnergy traveling through air or space

Heat Transfer

Figure 4.9

Energy Balance in the Troposphere  

The Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric Warming  

Clouds and Earth’s “Greenhouse”  

Earth–Atmosphere Radiation Balance  

The Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric Warming

Atmosphere absorbs heat energy

A real greenhouse traps heat inside

Atmosphere delays transfer of heat from Earth into space

Clouds and Forcing

Figure 4.10

Shortwave and Longwave Energy

Figure 4.11

Earth–Atmosphere Radiation Balance

Figure 4.12

Energy Budget by Latitude

Figure 4.13

Energy Balance at Earth’s Surface

Daily Radiation Patterns  

Simplified Surface Energy Balance  

The Urban Environment

Daily Radiation Curves

Figure 4.14

Surface Energy Budget

Figure 4.15

Simplified Surface Energy BalanceNET R =

+SW (insolation)

–SW (reflection)

+LW (infrared)

–LW (infrared)

Figure 4.16

Global NET R

Figure 4.17

Global Latent Heat

Figure 4.18

Global Sensible Heat

Figure 4.19

Solar Cooking Solution

Figure FS 4.1.1

Solar Energy

Figure FS 4.1.2

Radiation Budgets

Figure 4.20

El Mirage, CA

Pitt Meadows,BC

The Urban Environment

Figure 4.21

Urban Heat Island

Figure 4.22

Urban Heat

IslandPilot

Project

Figure 4.23

Robert W. ChristophersonCharlie Thomsen

Geosystems 7eAn Introduction to Physical Geography

End of Chapter 4