Radiation Balance of the Earth-Atmosphere System
Energy flow in = Energy flow out
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Notes:
In the long run (over decades or longer) the amount of heat energy absorbed by the Earth from solar radiation must balance the outgoing heat radiated by the Earth to space. This lecture is about the factors and physical principles that control that balance, and how it is likely to be affected by the increasing concentrations in the atmosphere of carbon dioxide from the burning of coal and oil.
The concepts required to understand these effects are somewhat technical, and careful thought is needed to assimilate them. The slides that follow are based on the account in Horel and Geissler, but with a somewhat different emphasis. It is recommended that both explanations be read carefully.