Emission Temperature of Planets. Emission Temperature of Earth

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1 Emission Temperature of Planets The emission temperature of a planet, T e, is the temperature with which it needs to emit in order to achieve energy balance (assuming the average temperature is not decreasing c.f. Jovian planets). We equate the absorbed solar energy with the energy emitted by a blackbody: Figure 5 Solar radiation absorbed = planetary radiation emitted Absorbed Solar Radiation = S p p r p2 (1-a p ) a p is the planetary reflectivity or albedo. For Earth, a p is ~ 0.3. For Venus, a p is ~ 0.7 and so solar energy input per unit area is less despite being at 0.7 AU. Emitted radiation = s T p r p 2 The p r p 2 accounts for the fact that emission occurs over the entire area of the sphere. Equating the absorbed and emitted radiation: S p p r p2 (1-a p ) = s T e p r p 2 T e = [(S p / )( 1-a p )/ s ] 1/ Today: Emission Temperature of Earth T e = [(1367 W m -2 / ) (1 0.3) / ( W m -2 K - )] ¼ = 255 K = -18 C (O o F) Obviously this is not the emission temperature of the surface! As we will see next lecture, the greenhouse effect warms the surface significantly above T e (fortunately). The problem is even more severe early in the solar evolution: Billion years ago: T e = [(1000 W m -2 / ) (1 0.3(?)) / ( W m -2 K - )] ¼ = 235 K = -38 C (-36 o F) Contrast with Jupiter: Jupiter is km from the sun. Its albedo is S Jupiter = 3.9 x W / ( p d Jupiter 2 ) = 50 W m -2 T e = [(50 W m -2 / ) (1 0.73) / ( W m -2 K - )] ¼ = 88 K Actual emission temperature of Jupiter is ~ 13 K. Most of the energy emitted by Jupiter today (> 80% - note T dependence) is associated with cooling from gravitational accretion.

2 Spectral Dependence of Black Body Radiation: The Planck Function Understanding black body radiation is one of the great triumphs of 20 th century physics and led to the discovery of quantum theory. In many ways, it was a more important development than relativity, since in BB radiation q.m. is manifest in the macroscopic world. Max Planck ( ; developed the theory of blackbody radiation leading to the discovery of quantum mechanics (for which he earned the Nobel Prize in physics in 1918). Planck postulated that the energy, E, of molecules is quantized and can undergo only discrete transitions that satisfy: E = n hν where n is integer, h is Planck's constant (the fundamental constant of quantum mechanics), and? = c/? is the frequency of the radiation emitted (or absorbed) in the transition. The radiation is therefore quantized in photons (not Planck's work) that carry energy in units of h?. From this postulate, Planck derived the relationship between the intensity radiation emitted by a blackbody at a given wavelength to its temperature (Planck's Law): 2hν 1 B ( T ) = ν c 2 ( e hν / kt 1) where k B is the Boltzmann constant (the fundamental constant of statistical mechanics, E average = k B T, for molecules, light, everything) and c, is the speed of light in vacuum. The integral of B? (T) over all frequency (and over all angles in a hemisphere) iss T Hotter objects emit at shorter wavelength (higher frequency) - figure 3.2 from text Greenhouse Effect Note that the solar radiance is almost completely separated spectrally from the thermal emission from Earth. We now develop a very simple but illustrative modelto illustrate how an atmosphere warms the surface of a planet. Consider a slab atmosphere that is transparent (emissivity = 0) at all wavelengths < 2 µm (2000 nm). Now assume that this atmosphere is a black body at terrest rial wavelengths (emissivity = 1 at wavelengths > 2 µm): S o / (1- α p ) σ T A (OLR) σ T S σ T A Surface Since the atmosphere absorbs all terrestrial radiation, the only energy emitted to space is from the atmosphere. The energy balance at the top of the atmosphere is then: S o p r p2 (1-a p ) = s T A p r p 2 or S o (1-a p ) = s T A = s T e The surface temperature, however, is much warmer. Energy balance at the surface requires: s T S = 2 s T A s T S = 2 s T e

3 The atmosphere does not inhibit the flow of energy to the surface, but augments the solar heating of the surface with its own emission (here equal to the solar heating). For this slab, isothermal, atmosphere of unit emissivity, the surface temperature is nearly 20% higher than T e (255 K 303 K) In this course, our aim is to understand in growing sophistication the feedbacks and forcing that drive Earth's surface temperature between these extremes. Figure (below). In fact, the isothermal blackbody atmosphere, is not really the extreme. Because of the thermal structure of the atmosphere (Chapter 1), the surface temperature can be forced substantially above (2)^0.25. The simple model described above can be extended to an arbitrary number of 'layers' in our slab atmosphere: S o / (1- α p ) σ T S σ T A Atmosphere (2) σ T A(1) σ T A(2) Atmosphere (1) Surface Thus, the greater the 'optical depth' of the atmosphere, the warmer the surface. Global Radiative Flux Energy Balance for Earth In our model above, the themal coupling between the surface and atmosphere is weak. Only radiation transfers energy and the isothemal atmosphere is substantially cooler than the surface. Clearly, our head is not cooler than our feet! The vertical transfer of heat in the atmosphere is one of the most important climate processes. Energy is transferred both radiatively and non-radiatively and both are critical for climate. The transmission of solar radiation to the surface (and the absorption there) and the degree of coupling between the warm surface and the atmosphere determines the strength of the greenhouse effect. As we will see next week, the efficiency of Earth's greenhouse effect lies intermediate between that of Venus and Mars. Figure 2. from Hartmann illustrates the globally averaged movement of energy through Earth's atmosphere (the values are % of the top of atmosphere radiative flux (30 W m-2). 50% of the insolation is transmitted and absorbed at the surface. The UV (3%) is significantly attenuated in the stratosphere by O 2 and O 3. In the troposphere (below ~10 km), ~20% is absorbed by water vapor (13%), clouds (3%), and CO 2, O 3, O 2 (together a few percent). Figure below Note the large thermal fluxes within the atmosphere, indicating the strength of the greenhouse effect. The main contributers to the absorption of long wavelength radiation in the atmosphere (and their mixing ratio) are: H 2 O (variable < 3%), clouds (variable), CO 2 (370 ppm), O 3 (0-7 ppm), N 2 O (315 ppb), CH (1800 ppb), The gases that make up most of the atmosphere N 2 (78%), O 2 (21), Ar (1%) are essentially transparent (more later). Water vapor and clouds are by far the most important greenhouse drivers (> 80%) of the surface forcing. Only ~10% of the photons emitted at the surface pass through the atmosphere unimpeded. What makes a greenhouse gas a greenhouse gas, we will take up in much more detail in week 3.

4 Examining Figure 2. we can begin to understand a number of things about Earth climate: The very strong downward emission from the atmosphere is essential for maintaining the relatively small diurnal variations in surface temperature. Compare desert to continental interior (humidity/clouds). We also can see a number of positive feedbacks: Water is a critical component of the climate system. temperature absolute humidity temperature Planetary Reflectivity (Albedo) Visible albedo of some surfaces: Fresh Snow Old Snow. -.7 Dry sand Dark soil Water Forest Cumulus Clouds.7-.9 Stratus clouds.6-.8 Cirro-stratus.-.5 The difference between the reflectivity of ice/snow and ocean/forest is a critical climate feedback. Much more about this later. Latitude, OLR, and the Influence of Energy Transfer. Up until now, our model of energy transport has been of the 'copper' planet of spherical geometry. In this model (miraculously) the entire surface is at the same temperature and all regions get the same insolation (averaged over a day). Let us first consider the input of solar radiation. We define the solar zenith angle (SZA), θ S, as the angle between the local normal and a line between a point on Earth's surface and the sun. Solar Flux Zenith θ S Surface Area = A Shadow Area = A cos θ S The SZA depends on latitude, season, and time of day. The season can be expressed in terms of the declination angle, δ, which is the latitude of the point on the surface of Earth directly under the sun at noon. (23.5 o N at summer solstice 23.5 o S at winter solstice). The hour angle, h, is defined as the longitude of the subsolar point relative to its position at noon. We these definitions, the cosine of SZA can be derived for any latitude (φ), season, and time of day: cos(θ s )= sin φ sin δ + cos φ cos δ cosh From this, we can derive the radiant flux as a function of latit ude and season (Figure 2.6 Hartmann). The albedo also is higher at high latitude (Figure 2.9) (ice / higher inclination angle)

5 Latitude, OLR, and the Influence of Energy Transfer - OLR. If we examine figure 2.10 from Hartmann, the large gradient in OLR with latitude is obvious. Note highest in subtropics over deserts (why?). Note asymmetry between poles (mention ozone hole). SW and OLR together - Figure Comment on T dependence of OLR: can increase globally average temperature by more efficient transport of heat to higher latitude. Figure 5. Ruddiman 2001 Emission Temperature of Planets

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