1. Solar Energy and Earth’s Atmosphere
GPH 111

2. What we cover: Two classifications of heat energy
Layering of earth’s atmosphere
General atmospheric density
Normal adiabatic lapse rate and unusual twists
Problems that generate pollution

3. Let’s put the Earth and Sun into perspective…
If the sun’s total energy output for one second was stored in some super duper battery, it would take the US over 9 million years to use it all.

4. Solar shortwave radiation vs. Earth’s longwave radiation…

5. Earth vs. the Sun energy breakdown
Layers of the Atmosphere Exercise Time!

6. Atmospheric Function…
Outer Space
Atmospheric Function…
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere

7. Earth’s Atmosphere and Solar Energy
<0.001%
Air Density
>90%

8. Air Pressure Kittinger and his Balloon
102,800 feet (99% of atmosphere)
Accelerated to 614 mph
Freefall of 4.5 minutes

9. Adiabatic Lapse Rates…
Through the troposphere, temperature drops with elevation at a normal lapse rate of 6.4 per 1000 m or 3.5 per 1000 feet on average.
The rate of change can vary substantially because of local weather changes

10. Inversion layers and Pollution…

11. Inversion Layers…
With pollution unable to mix in the upper atmosphere during an inversion, this leads to poor visibility and heath issues

12. Solar Radiation and Smog…
Smog Production:
Car exhaust (NO2, VOCs, CO) and ultraviolet radiation chemically react to generate:
Ozone, Peroxyacetyl nitrates (PANs), and Nitric Acid.

13. Los Angeles and Smog…

14. Phoenix and Smog…

15. This is in China… our future?

16. Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere…
CFC’s react with Ozone to deplete the good Ozone from the atmosphere

17. Things to know… The difference between short and longwave radiation
The different layers of the atmosphere based on temperature
The layers where solar energy is absorbed
How inversion layers develop and their affect on pollution
What does car exhaust have to interact with to generate pollution?
The general cause and effect of ozone loss in the stratosphere
Help: Chapter ER