GEOS 1034 Lecture 3: Earth's Natural Hazards (test 3)
26 May 2019
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No ozone layer to absorb uv light from sun. Co2 acts as greenhouse gas and modulates surface temperature: without average t=-19 celsius, with average t=14 celsius. Once these became saturated, atmospheric o2 began increasing. Current composition: water at low elevations, ozone at high. 30% lost to space by re ection and scattering. 20% of radiation absorbed by atmosphere and clouds. 50% of direct and diffused radiation absorbed by land and sea. Only 12% of earth"s heat comes from direct shortwave radiation. About 70% comes from radiated long wave radiation. Properties of the atmosphere: water content is variable. 0. 3% in desert, 4% in rainforest: measured as relative humidity. Ratio of measured content to maximum possible content: winds: moving air. On a uniform planet, atmosphere is in equilibrium: no wind. A real planet has differences in temperature: warmer air is less dense, lower temperature, winds are re-equilibration attempt. A function of local topography/conditions: may be diurnal or seasonal.
