Energy Balance and Circulation Systems

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Ocean circulation

Source: NOAA

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Source: Wikipedia

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Atmospheric Circulations

Source: Wikipedia

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The Energy to Drive the Atmosphere

Weather patterns and ocean currents redistribute energy from latitudes with a surplus into latitudes with a deficit.

Unequal distribution in incoming solar radiation (red) and outgoing Earth’s radiation (blue)

Source: Ahrens, C. D., 2008: Essentials of Meteorology, An Invitation to the Atmosphere (5th Edition)

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Energy received at the surface depends on:1) Sun angle with respect to surface.2) Path of solar radiation through the atmosphere.

Source: Wikipedia

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Solar Radiation Entering the Atmosphere• Absorbed by gases and clouds – goes to heating (19%)• Scattered and Reflected by Gas Molecules, Clouds, Aerosols, and the Earth’s surface (30%)

About 51%Source: Ahrens, C. D., 2008: Essentials of Meteorology, An Invitation to the Atmosphere (5th Edition)

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Earth’s Energy BalanceEarth’s overall average equilibrium temperature changes only slightly from year to year.

A balance exists between incoming solar energy (shortwave radiation) and outgoing energy from Earth to space (longwave radiation).

Source: Ahrens, C. D., 2008: Essentials of Meteorology, An Invitation to the Atmosphere (5th Edition)

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Without greenhouse gases, the average surface temperature of the Earth would be –18° C

No greenhouse gases(only permanent gases)

The current atmosphere(with greenhouse gases)

33° C differenceSource: Ahrens, C. D., 2008: Essentials of Meteorology,

An Invitation to the Atmosphere (5th Edition)

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