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Botkin Environmental Science Earth as Living Planet 8th txtbk

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20.4 The Atmosphere 437<br />

Sun<br />

(5800°C)<br />

Relatively<br />

short-wave<br />

radiation<br />

from sun<br />

(mostly visible)<br />

<strong>Earth</strong><br />

(15°C)<br />

Relatively long-wave radiation<br />

from <strong>Earth</strong> (mostly infrared)<br />

Sun<br />

Peaks in the<br />

visible light<br />

spectra<br />

Radiation flux (W/m 2 /μm)<br />

10 5<br />

10 3<br />

10 1<br />

<strong>Earth</strong><br />

10 7<br />

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000<br />

Radiation flux is<br />

a million (10 6 ) times<br />

greater for the sun<br />

than the <strong>Earth</strong><br />

All in infrared<br />

part of spectrum<br />

10 –1<br />

Wavelength (μm)<br />

FIGURE 20.9 The sun, much hotter than the <strong>Earth</strong>, mostly emits energy in the visible and near infrared. The cooler <strong>Earth</strong><br />

emits energy mostly in the far (longer-wavelength) infrared.<br />

100% Incoming<br />

solar radiation<br />

30% Reflected<br />

to space (25% from<br />

atmosphere, 5% from<br />

surface of <strong>Earth</strong>)<br />

100% Total outgoing<br />

infrared radiation<br />

(earthshine)<br />

70% Heat lost<br />

to space (from<br />

atmosphere and<br />

surface of <strong>Earth</strong>)<br />

25% Absorbed<br />

in atmosphere<br />

45%<br />

Absorbed by <strong>Earth</strong><br />

at surface<br />

Heat<br />

reabsorbed<br />

by <strong>Earth</strong><br />

(CO 2 ,CH 4 , etc.)<br />

FIGURE 20.10 <strong>Earth</strong>’s energy budget.

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