Homework 3

 

This assignment is due on Friday, September 23 at the beginning of the lecture.

Firstly, complete a mountain problem and a harder mountain problem.

 

  1. List at least 4 different forms of radiation in the earth's atmosphere.
  2. List three important "greenhouse gases". What is the most important  greenhouse gas is not regulated by the Kyoto Protocol?
  3. What does Wien's Law tell us is the difference between radiation emitted by the sun versus radiation emitted by the earth?
  4. What does Stephan/Boltzmann's Law tell us is the difference between radiation emitted by the sun versus radiation emitted by the earth?
  5. In class, we said that AT NIGHT clouds help keep the surface of the earth warm. Do they do this during the day also? What other factors are important during the day?
  6. Which object emits more longwave radiation:  the sun or the earth?  Why?
  7. Where does most of the longwave radiation in the earth's atmosphere come from:  the sun or the earth?  Why?
  8. This is the big question of this homework assignment. Write a paragraph or two explaining heat transport in the atmosphere. Starting with shortwave radiation coming from the sun, what happens to that heat? Your short essay should include the following terms and concepts:
    • absorption, reflection, transmission, scattering -- albedo
    • conduction, convection, advection
    • longwave radiation, shortwave radiation, greenhouse effect, atmospheric window
    • Latent heat