LIFESCI 2H03 Lecture Notes - The Faint, Atmospheric Circulation, Gaia Hypothesis
11 Jun 2013
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Document Summary
What causes climate? surface of the earth is unequally heated by the sun large portion is reverted back to the earth surface two major forcings: amount of energy we"re receiving from the sun and the redistribution by ghg. Balance between the equators and the poles, their function is to redistribute the excess of energy from the lower latitudes to the higher ones. As the energy is redistributed, the major vector is water in the forms of ocean currents and atmospheric circulation. Water raises in the equator and dries as it drops on the suptropical highs, classes with cold dry areas near the poles resulting in precipitation in areas of the subpolar lows. No gains or losses in the radiation budget it is in balance. What are climate feedbacks climate forcing makes initial change in climate feedbacks can: amplify or dampen effect of initial change. Nuclear fusion was not as strong as it is now.
