Greenhouse Effect
... Greenhouse Gases & Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Climate Feedbacks on an Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Methodology for Enhanced Greenhouse Effect Measurement & Data
Summary
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Introduction
Greenhouse Effect
A Simplied Radiative Equilibrium Model
Variability of Global Temperature -- Global Warming?
Natural Climate Variability vs. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Potential Effects of Global Warming
Greenhouse Myths
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Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect results from "the dirty of the atmospheric infrared window" by some atmospheric trace gases, permitting incoming solar radiation to reach th surface of the Earth unhindered but restricting the outward flow of infrared radiation. These atmospheric trace gases are referred as greenhouse gases. They absorb and reradiate this outgoing radiation, effectively storing some of the heat in the atmosphere, thus producing a net warming of the surface. The process is called the greenhouse effect.
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A Simplied Radiative Equilibrium Model
The greenhouse effect plays a crucial role in maintaining a life-sustaining environment on the earth. If there is no greenhouse effect (suppose that there is no greenhouse gases existing in our atmosphere), the temperature of the earth is determined by the amount of incoming solar radiation that reaches and heats its surface. The amount of incoming solar radiation received at the Earth's surface is given by pi*R^2*S*(1-A), where R is the radius of the earth; S is the solar constant; and A is the albedo of the earth. (The albedo of the earth is approximately 33%.) This amount of incoming solar radiation reaches the surface of the earth and heats it to a temperature, called the effective temperture, Te. Supposing that the earth emits heat like a...
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