Incoming solar radiation

Much of the concern about particulate matter in the atmosphere arises because particles of certain size ranges can be inhaled and retained by the human respiratory system. There is also concern because particulate matter in the atmosphere absorbs and scatters incoming solar radiation. For a detailed discussion of the human respiratory system and the defenses it provides against exposure of the lungs to particulate matter, see Chapter 7. 

Incoming Solar Radiation Thinly Overcast or 4/8 Low Cloud 3/8 Cloud... 

Greenhouse effect The retention of heat by the earth and the atmosphere due to certain gases being transparent to incoming solar radiation but opaque to the longer-wave radiation back from the earth. 

Incoming solar radiation Strong Moderate Slight... 

Fig. 17-1 The global climate system, (a) Energy fluxes, including incoming solar radiation, reflected radiation, emitted longwave radiation (from an effective altitude of ca. 6 km), and atmospheric and oceanic heat flux toward the polar regions, (b) The atmospheric circulation corresponding to part (a). Refer back to Fig. 7-4 and associated text for a discussion of the general circulation.

Carbon dioxide does not affect the energy input to the planet because CO2 is transparent to most of the incoming solar radiation. In contrast, CO2 is extremely effective at absorbing infrared radiation, so the energy output from the planet decreases when the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases by even a small amount. 

The albedo of earth surface varies from about 0.1 for the oceans to 0.6-0.9 for ice and clouds which mean the clouds, snow and ice are good radiation reflectors while liquid water is not. In fact, snow and ice have the highest albedos of any parts of the earth s surface Some parts of Antarctic reflect up to 90% of incoming solar radiation. 

Particles and gases in the earth s atmosphere absorb about 25% of this energy and 25% is reflected back to space by the atmosphere, mostly from clouds. About 5% of the incoming solar radiation is reflected back to space from the surface of the earth, mostly from bright regions such as deserts and ice fields. A 1-square-meter surface (39 inches by 39 inches), placed above the atmosphere will collect about 1,370 watts of radiant... 

The global heat cycle drives the hydrological cycle, which in turn controls the salinity of seawater. The most important contributor of heat to the crustal-ocean-fectory is solar radiation. The flux of solar radiation that reaches Earth is termed insolation. Only a fraction of the incoming solar radiation reaches Earth s surfece, because a large portion is either reflected or absorbed by the atmosphere. That which reaches Earth s surface is also either reflected or absorbed. In the end, about half of the incoming radiation is absorbed by the rocks and water on Earth s surfece. (A detailed heat budget is provided... 

Incoming radiation from the Sun and backradiation emitted by Earth interacts with the atmosphere. Although about half of the Sun s radiation passes directly to Earth s surface, a portion is reflected back directly into space, while another portion is absorbed by atmospheric gases and reradiated. Figure 18.3 shows the fate of radiation intercepting Earth. About half of the incoming solar radiation actually reaches the surface of Earth. The rest is reflected or absorbed by the atmosphere or clouds. Infiared radiation reflected from Earth s surface is partially absorbed and reflected by the atmosphere and clouds. Some of this radiation is reradiated back toward Earth s... 

In Chapter 3 we examined the interaction of incoming solar radiation in the UV and visible regions of the spectrum with atmospheric gases, which drives atmospheric photochemistry. This incoming solar radiation... 

---