Climate Change and Energy Transfer

Introduction

• Presented by Rosh
• Focus on three main processes governing global climate
• Climate has historically been unstable, with dramatic changes

Understanding Climate vs. Weather

• Climate: Long-term average of weather
• Weather: Results from energy transfer within the atmosphere
  • Rain: Water vapor cools, condenses, releases energy
  • Wind: Hot air rises, cooler air fills in
• Global climate change is a shift in total energy in the system

Source of Energy

• Sun: Main source of energy, fusing 600 million tonnes of hydrogen per second
  • Surface temperature: 5800 Kelvin
  • Energy primarily emitted as visible light and ultraviolet radiation
• Earth emits mostly infrared radiation (heat)

Dynamic Equilibrium

• Climate moves towards stable state when energy leaving equals energy coming in
• Energy Leaves Earth:
  • Reflection (high albedo surfaces like ice, clouds)
  • Absorption and re-emission as heat (low albedo surfaces like oceans, forests)

Greenhouse Effect

• Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit heat
  • Reduces energy escaping to space
  • Atmosphere warms up until it radiates enough heat to maintain equilibrium

Radiative Forcing and Feedbacks

• Radiative Forcing: Any change in energy balance
  • Can trigger feedbacks that alter energy balance
• Types of Forcings:
  • Solar: Solar cycles
  • Albedo: Volcanic dust, asteroid impacts, tectonic movements
  • Greenhouse Gases: Volcanic activity, weathering, combustion

Conclusion

• Climate change results from changes in:
  • Energy from the sun
  • Albedo
  • Greenhouse effect
• Upcoming content will cover current forcings affecting modern climate
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