ATM S 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Global Warming Potential, Global Warming, Ozone Depletion

• School: UW
• Department: Atmospheric Sciences
• Course: ATM S 111
• Professor: D A R G A N M F R I E R S O N

Document Summary

Global warming potential: a way to compare how had different gases are for the climate. Atmosphere composition: nitrogen is 78%, oxygen 21% and argon is 0. 9%. But these are not greenhouse gases, this is for dry air (water vapour not counted). Molecules with 1 atom or 2 of the same atoms are not greenhouse gases. The primary gases in our atmosphere are thus transparent to longwave radiation. Greenhouse gases: polyatomic molecules are greenhouse gases these are water vapour, methane, All greenhouse gases are a rather small fraction of the atmosphere. Water vapour is 0. 4%, co2 is 0. 04% and methane is 0. 0002%. Trace gases have a huge effect on the atmosphere. Example: ozone absorbs all uv-b and uv-a radiations. It is not the same as clouds - clouds are tiny droplets of water or ice crystals suspended in air. It can"t be controlled by humans and is controlled by temperature. Co2: it"s what animals breathe out and plants breathe in.