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Earth's Energy Balance and Temperature

This document contains a multi-part question about the energy balance of Earth. It includes a diagram showing the radiation entering and leaving Earth's surface. Part 1 asks the student to (a) explain why the solar radiation at Earth is less than at the Sun, (b) state the emissivity of the atmosphere from the diagram as 0.6, calculate the radiation from the atmosphere to Earth's surface as 136 W/m^2, and calculate Earth's equilibrium temperature as 255 K. Part 1(c) asks the student to (i) outline how greenhouse gases absorb radiation from Earth's surface but not incoming solar radiation, and (ii) state one source (burning fossil fuels) and

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

389 views12 pages

Earth's Energy Balance and Temperature

Uploaded by

maxw16367

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Energy Balance of the Earth
Solar Radiation
Fossil Fuels and Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse Effect Analysis
Albedo of the Earth
Simple Harmonic Motion and Greenhouse Effect

B2 Subjective Revision Worksheet

1. This question is about the energy balance of the Earth.

(a) The intensity of the Sun’s radiation at the position of the Earth is approximately
1400 W m–2.

Suggest why the average power received per unit area of the Earth is 350 W m–2.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) The diagram shows a simplified model of the energy balance of the Earth’s surface.
The diagram shows radiation entering or leaving the Earth’s surface only.

The average equilibrium temperature of the Earth’s surface is TE and that of the
atmosphere is TA = 242 K.

(i) Using the data from the diagram, state the emissivity of the atmosphere.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Show that the intensity of the radiation radiated by the atmosphere towards the
Earth’s surface is 136 W m–2.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

1
(iii) By reference to the energy balance of the Earth’s surface, calculate TE.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) (i) Outline a mechanism by which part of the radiation radiated by the Earth’s surface
is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) Suggest why the incoming solar radiation is not affected by the mechanism you
outlined in (c)(i).

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas. State one source and one sink (object
that removes CO2) of this gas.

Source: ..............................................................................................................

Sink: ..................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 13 marks)

2
2. This question is about solar radiation.

(a) State the Stefan–Boltzmann law for a black body.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) The following data relate to the Earth and the Sun.

Earth-Sun distance = 1.5 × 1011 m

radius of Earth = 6.4 × 106 m
radius of Sun = 7.0 × 108 m
surface temperature of Sun = 5800 K

(i) Use data from the table to show that the power radiated by the Sun is about
4 × 1026 W.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Calculate the solar power incident per unit area at a distance from the Sun equal to
the Earth’s distance from the Sun.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) The average power absorbed per unit area at the Earth’s surface is 240 W m–2.
State two reasons why the value calculated in (b)(ii) differs from this value.

1: .......................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

2: .......................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

3
(iv) Show that the value for power absorbed per unit area of 240 W m–2 is consistent
with an average equilibrium temperature for Earth of about 255 K.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Explain, by reference to the greenhouse effect, why the average temperature of the
surface of the Earth is greater than 255 K.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(3)

(d) Suggest why the burning of fossil fuels may lead to an increase in the temperature of the
surface of the Earth.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 15 marks)

4
3. This question is about fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect.

(a) State two reasons why most of the world’s energy consumption is provided by fossil
fuels.

1. ..................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

2. ..................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) A power station has an output power of 500 MW and an overall efficiency of 27 %.
It uses natural gas as a fuel that has an energy density of 56 MJ kg–1.

(i) Define energy density.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Determine the rate of consumption of natural gas in the power station.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(3)

(d) (i) The solar intensity at the position of the Earth is 1380 W m–2. The average albedo
of Earth is 0.300. State why an average value of albedo is quoted.

...........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................... (1)

5
(ii) Show that the average reflected intensity from the Earth is about 100 W m–2.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(4)

(e) One of the expected results of global warming is an increased sea level. The increase in
volume ΔV for a temperature increase ΔT is given by ΔV = γVΔT. Show, using the
following data, that the resulting rise in sea level is about 0.5 m.

Temperature increase = 2.0 °C

Surface area of oceans on Earth = 3.6 × 108 km2
Average ocean depth = 3.0 km
γ = 8.8 × 10–5 K–1

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 16 marks)

6
4. This question is about the greenhouse effect.

(a) The graph shows part of the absorption spectrum of nitrogen oxide (N2O) in which the
intensity of absorbed radiation A is plotted against frequency f.

(i) State the region of the electromagnetic spectrum to which the resonant frequency
of nitrogen oxide belongs.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Using your answer to (a)(i), explain why nitrogen oxide is classified as a
greenhouse gas.

...........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................... (2)

(b) Define emissivity and albedo.

Emissivity: ...................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

Albedo: ........................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(3)

7
(c) The diagram shows a simple energy balance climate model in which the atmosphere and
the surface of Earth are two bodies each at constant temperature. The surface of the Earth
receives both solar radiation and radiation emitted from the atmosphere. Assume that the
Earth’s surface behaves as a black body.

The following data are available for this model.

average temperature of the atmosphere of Earth = 242 K

emissivity, e of the atmosphere of Earth = 0.720
average albedo, α of the atmosphere of Earth = 0.280
solar intensity at top of atmosphere = 344 W m–2
average temperature of the surface of Earth = 288 K

Use the data to show that the

(i) power radiated per unit area of the atmosphere is 140 W m–2.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) solar power absorbed per unit area at the surface of the Earth is 248 W m–2.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

8
(d) It is hypothesized that, if the production of greenhouse gases were to stay at its present
level then the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere would eventually rise by 6.0 K.

Calculate the power per unit area that would then be

(i) radiated by the atmosphere.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) absorbed by the Earth’s surface.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................(1)

(e) Estimate, using your answer to (d)(ii), the increase in temperature of Earth’s surface.

......................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... (3)
(Total 14 marks)

5. This question is about the albedo of the Earth.

(a) Outline the mechanism by which a gas, such as carbon dioxide, absorbs infra-red
radiation.

......................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... (2)

(b) State, with reference to your answer in (a), why carbon dioxide is known as a greenhouse
gas.

......................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... (1)

(c) State the name of another greenhouse gas.

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

9
(d) In the last fifty years the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere has
increased significantly. Explain

(i) why this increase could account for global warming.

...........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................... (1)

(ii) what effect this has had on the average albedo of the Earth.

...........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................... (3)

(e) It has been estimated that doubling the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s
atmosphere changes the albedo of the Earth by 0.01. Use the data to show that this
doubling will lead to a change of about 3 W m–2 in the intensity being reflected by the
Earth into space.

Average intensity received at Earth from the Sun = 340 W m–2

Average albedo = 0.30

......................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... (3)

(f) State one reason why the answer to (e) is an estimate.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 12 marks)

10
6. Simple harmonic motion and the greenhouse effect

(a) A body is displaced from equilibrium. State the two conditions necessary for the body to
execute simple harmonic motion.

1. .........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

2. .........................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................... (2)

(b) In a simple model of a methane molecule, a hydrogen atom and the carbon atom can be
regarded as two masses attached by a spring. A hydrogen atom is much less massive than
the carbon atom such that any displacement of the carbon atom may be ignored.

The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement x from its
equilibrium position of a hydrogen atom in a molecule of methane.

The mass of hydrogen atom is 1.7  10–27 kg. Use data from the graph above

(i) to determine its amplitude of oscillation.

......................................................................................................................... (1)

(ii) to show that the frequency of its oscillation is 9.1  1013 Hz.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) to show that the maximum kinetic energy of the hydrogen atom is 6.2  10–18 J.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

11
(c) Assuming that the motion of the hydrogen atom is simple harmonic, its frequency of
oscillation f is given by the expression

1 k
f ,
2 mp

where k is the force per unit displacement between a hydrogen atom and the carbon atom
and mp is the mass of a proton.

(i) Show that the value of k is approximately 560 N m–1.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Estimate, using your answer to (c)(i), the maximum acceleration of the hydrogen
atom.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(d) Methane is classified as a greenhouse gas.

(i) Describe what is meant by a greenhouse gas.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Electromagnetic radiation of frequency 9.1  1013 Hz is in the infrared region of

the electromagnetic spectrum. Suggest, based on the information given in (b)(ii),
why methane is classified as a greenhouse gas.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 14 marks)

Common questions

Emissivity refers to the efficiency with which a surface radiates energy as thermal radiation, and it plays a crucial role in cooling the Earth by radiating energy into space. High emissivity leads to more heat being radiated away. Albedo, the measure of reflectivity, determines how much incoming solar energy is reflected outwards without warming the surface, thus cooling the Earth. Together, a balance between emissivity and albedo is essential for maintaining Earth's climate stability. Shifts in these factors, such as lower albedo due to melting ice, can enhance warming .

The solar constant is the amount of solar radiation received per unit area at the Earth's distance from the Sun, which is approximately 1400 W m–2. However, the Earth is a sphere and only a specific area faces the Sun at any time, receiving the direct sunlight. When considering the rotation of the Earth and averaging over its surface area, the effective power received per unit area is spread over the entire surface, resulting in an average power of 350 W m–2. This accounts for both the day and night sides of the Earth .

There are two main factors. First, the Earth's albedo, which is the reflectivity of the Earth's surface, means a portion of incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space. Second, the atmosphere absorbs some of the incoming radiation before it reaches the surface. These factors explain why the average power absorbed is lower than the calculated solar intensity .

The average surface temperature of the Earth is greater than its equilibrium temperature due to the greenhouse effect. While Earth's energy balance suggests an equilibrium temperature of about 255 K, greenhouse gases like CO2 trap some of the infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface, reradiating it back towards the surface and warming it further. This process raises the average temperature to about 288 K, a phenomenon critical for sustaining life .

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2), a significant greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. This enhances the greenhouse effect by increasing the concentration of gases that trap heat, leading to an increase in Earth's surface temperature. The added heat energy influences climate systems, causing potential instability and long-term climatic changes .

Sustained current levels of greenhouse gas emissions would intensify the greenhouse effect, leading to increased thermal energy retention in the Earth's atmosphere. This would raise the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, increasing the power per unit area radiated by the atmosphere and absorbed by Earth. Ultimately, this would shift the energy balance of the planet, potentially causing catastrophic climatic changes and destabilizing natural and human systems .

Greenhouse gases such as CO2 and water vapor absorb infrared radiation emitted by the Earth because their molecular vibration modes resonate with the thermal energy spectrum of IR radiation. This energy absorption causes them to re-emit radiation, partly directed back to Earth's surface, thus trapping heat. This absorption does not significantly affect incoming solar radiation because most solar energy arrives as visible light and higher-energy wavelengths, which easily pass through the atmospheric window - a region less absorbed by these gases .

Using an average value of albedo simplifies calculations by providing a single measure of Earth's reflectivity, accounting for varying surface conditions, such as ice caps, deserts, and forests. It helps in estimating the planet's energy balance. Despite regional variations, an averaged albedo is crucial for modeling and predicting climate trends, as it impacts the Earth’s surface temperature and heating distribution patterns. However, reliance on averages can obscure regional climatic changes necessary for more precise forecasting .

The Stefan–Boltzmann law explains that the power radiated by a black body is proportional to the fourth power of its temperature. Consequently, a hypothetical increase in the atmospheric temperature would result in a significant increase in the power radiated by the atmosphere. This enhanced radiation could contribute to further warming if not counteracted by proportional increased emissions into space or other cooling mechanisms .

Thermal expansion occurs as water increases in volume when heated. Given a significant temperature increase, as calculated using the expression ΔV = γVΔT, the expanded water volume could lead to measurable rises in sea level, such as 0.5 meters for certain average depth and surface area of oceans. This rise poses global threats, including increased flood risk for coastal areas, loss of habitat, and greater stress on marine and freshwater resources .

1
1.
This question is about the energy balance of the Earth.
(a)
The intensity of the Sun’s radiation at the position o

2
(iii)
By reference to the energy balance of the Earth’s surface, calculate TE.
.......................................

3
2.
This question is about solar radiation.
(a)
State the Stefan–Boltzmann law for a black body.
....................

4
(iv)
Show that the value for power absorbed per unit area of 240 W m–2 is consistent
with an average equilibrium tempe

5
3.
This question is about fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect.
(a)
State two reasons why most of the world’s energ

6
(ii) Show that the average reflected intensity from the Earth is about 100 W m–2.
....................................

7
4.
This question is about the greenhouse effect.
(a)
The graph shows part of the absorption spectrum of nitrogen oxid

8
(c)
The diagram shows a simple energy balance climate model in which the atmosphere and
the surface of Earth are two

9
(d)
It is hypothesized that, if the production of greenhouse gases were to stay at its present
level then the temperat

10
(d)
In the last fifty years the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere has
increased significantly. Expla

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Earth's Energy Balance and Temperature

Uploaded by

Earth's Energy Balance and Temperature

Uploaded by

B2 Subjective Revision Worksheet

1. This question is about the energy balance of the Earth.

(a) State the Stefan–Boltzmann law for a black body.

Earth-Sun distance = 1.5 × 1011 m

(i) Define energy density.

Temperature increase = 2.0 °C

(b) Define emissivity and albedo.

The following data are available for this model.

average temperature of the atmosphere of Earth = 242 K

Use the data to show that the

Calculate the power per unit area that would then be

(i) radiated by the atmosphere.

(ii) absorbed by the Earth’s surface.

5. This question is about the albedo of the Earth.

(c) State the name of another greenhouse gas.

(i) why this increase could account for global warming.

Average intensity received at Earth from the Sun = 340 W m–2

(f) State one reason why the answer to (e) is an estimate.

(i) to determine its amplitude of oscillation.

(i) Show that the value of k is approximately 560 N m–1.

(d) Methane is classified as a greenhouse gas.

(i) Describe what is meant by a greenhouse gas.

(ii) Electromagnetic radiation of frequency 9.1  1013 Hz is in the infrared region of

Common questions

Using the concepts of emissivity and albedo, explain how these factors influence Earth's climate system.

Why does the average power received per unit area of the Earth from the Sun measure significantly less than the solar constant at Earth's position?

What factors account for the Earth receiving less solar power per unit area than the solar intensity at its position would suggest?

Explain why the average temperature of the Earth's surface is greater than that derived from its balance energy model temperature.

How does burning fossil fuels contribute to global warming and potentially increasing Earth's surface temperature?

How might extending the current level of greenhouse gas emissions ultimately affect the power dynamics of the Earth's energy exchange system?

What mechanisms explain the selective absorption of Earth's infrared radiation by greenhouse gases, and why does this not significantly affect incoming solar radiation?

Discuss the significance of using an average value of albedo in climate modeling and weather prediction.

What is the relationship between a hypothetical increase in average atmospheric temperature and the power radiated by the Earth's atmosphere?

Analyze how a rise in sea level may occur due to thermal expansion and what would be its global implications?

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