Earth\'s energy budget and incoming solar radiation a) we defined the solar “con

Question

Earth's energy budget and incoming solar radiation

a) we defined the solar “constant” as the flux of energy reaching the top of the Earth’s atmosphere and said its value is about 1360 W m-2.   Briefly but completely describe why this number is different than the number used for incoming (downwelling) solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere (about 340 W m-2) in our calculation of the Earth’s energy balance.

b) Given that the solar constant is 1360 W m-2 and the mean distance between the sun and the Earth is 1.5 x 1011 m, what is the total energy output by the sun? You need to show / describe your calculation to get any points for this question.

c) What fraction of the sun’s total energy output does the Earth intercept, given that the radius of the Earth is 6.4 x 106 m. Express your answer as a percent. Hint: it’s a really small percentage…

Explanation / Answer

answer 1- the value of flux of energy reaching at the top of the atmosphere is 1360 Wm-2. and the value of incoming solar radiation at the top of atmopshere is about 340 Wm-2. 29 % of solar energy is refracted back to the outer space from the top of the atmosphere by the presence of clouds ,atmosphereic particle brightness ground surface like snow and continental ice sheet and 23 % of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the water vapor, ozones and other gases present in the atmosphere only 48 % of solar energy passes thorugh the atmosphere and absorbed by the surface. when matter absorb energy the atoms and molecules of that matter becomes excited this rises the temperature of the body. the amount of energy of heat surface is 4th power of its temperature. If the temperature rises its energy the planet rapidly emits an increasing the amount of heat to the space. the atomosphere and surface together absorb 78% of total incoming solar radiation. because of presence of gases and ice on surface and atmosphere they abosrb the solar incoming radiation and increse the surface temperation which leads the rises the value of surface heat flux of the earth.

answer 2- amount of solar constant is 1360 W m-2 and distance between sun and the earth is 1.5 * 10 11m

formula of total energy output is

Sp = Ss(rs/dp)2

dp is the average planetary distance which is this case is 1.5* 10 11 m

Sp heat flux at the planet in this case earth is 1340 W-m2

rs is the radius of sun is 6.95 *108 m

so the amount of Ss would be

1340= Ss( 6.95 *108/1.5 *1011)2

Ss = 1340/ (6.95*108/1.5*1011)2

Ss = 289* 103 m = 289000m

answer 3- fraction of energy ouput = amount of energy flux of the earth / total amount of energy flux at the surface of sun *100

1340/ 289000*100

= 0.46%

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