1. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 CHAPTER 3 THE GLOBAL ENERGY SYSTEM

2. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 INTRODUCTION Scales of climate Atmospheric composition and structure –Troposphere –Stratosphere –Temperature profile Units used in climatology

3. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 BASIC PROPERTIES OF THE ATMOSPHERE Temperature Pressure Density Concentration Mixing ratio

4. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 THE SUN AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY The solar constant The solar spectrum –Ultraviolet –Visible –Infrared Spatial variations of solar energy at the top of the atmosphere How changes in solar energy lead to ice ages

5. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 THE RADIATION BUDGET OF THE EARTH–ATMOSPHERE SYSTEM – SHORTWAVE RADIATION Incoming shortwave radiation – Figures 3.6, 3.10 Atmospheric scattering –Air molecules –Particles Atmospheric absorption The impact of clouds

6. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 SHORTWAVE ENERGY AT THE EARTH’S SURFACE Absorption at the Earth’s surface Albedo How efficient is solar energy as a power source?

7. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 IS THERE REALLY A HOLE OVER ANTARCTICA? Chemical players in ozone depletion The circumpolar vortex Polar stratospheric clouds Very low temperatures

8. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 THE RADIATION BUDGET OF THE EARTH–ATMOSPHERE SYSTEM – LONGWAVE RADIATION Longwave radiation from the Earth’s surface Atmospheric absorption and re-radiation Assessing the Earth’s environment through infrared photography What’s all this fuss about greenhouse warming?

9. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 THE RADIATION BUDGET OF THE EARTH-ATMOSPHERE SYSTEM – NET RADIATION AND ENERGY BUDGET Net radiation and its global distribution Latent heat of evaporation (Chapter 5) Sensible heat and temperature –Vertical profiles during the day –Isotherms The global temperature distribution –Australian distribution

10. © Oxford University Press, 2008. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 3 SUB-SURFACE HEAT FLUX Land compared to water Differences by surface characteristics Impacts on seasonal and diurnal temperatures Global examples Australian example Controlling sub-surface heat flux in your garden