EVSC 1450 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Radiative Forcing, Atmospheric Methane, Solar Constant

• School: University of Virginia
• Department: Environmental Sciences
• Course: EVSC 1450
• Professor: Lawrence Deborah

Document Summary

Mixed layer ocean: 1000/100 = 10, but two different ins and outs so only. Net effect: co2 added from fossil fuels stay in the atmosphere for many centuries (~400 years) -- we are waiting for weathering. Thinking about earth as a pot of water. E in increases, e out hasn"t yet. E in - e out = a positive number, but warming has to occur. Time lag for a pot of water is about 5 minutes. E in plunges, but e out is still hot. E in < e out -- cooling. Takes longer to cool off than it did to heat off. Adds a layer to the atmosphere, adds capacity to absorb infrared radiation, which warms the surface. We think it takes 50 to 100 years. Humans are responsible for of it. Oxidation: ch4 + 02 -> co2 + h20. More potent (20 x the absorption of co2) Average lifetime/mean residence time: 10-12 years vs.