Greenhouse effect: Difference between revisions

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The '''Greenhouse Effect''' (or "atmospheric effect") is a general attribute of planets and moons with atmospheres. It is an imbalance between surface radiation and top-of-atmosphere radiation due to the presence of [[greenhouse gas|greenhouse gases]]. For example, in the case of the [[Earth]], the surface emits 390 W/m<sup>2</sup><ref>Watts per square metre</ref> (averaged over a year and the whole surface), but the emission at the top of the atmosphere is 235 W/m<sup>2</sup>, giving a global-average greenhouse effect of 155 W/m<sup>2</sup><ref name="Tren96">Trenberth <i>et al</i>., 1996. in <i>Climate change 1995: The science of climate change</i>, Cambridge Univ. Press.</ref>. The top-of-atmosphere outgoing radiation balances the incoming 235 W/m<sup>2</sup> of solar radiation (342 W/m<sup>2</sup> incident minus 107 W/m<sup>2</sup> reflected).
The '''Greenhouse Effect''' (or "atmospheric effect") is a general attribute of planets and moons with atmospheres. It is an imbalance between surface radiation and top-of-atmosphere radiation due to the presence of [[greenhouse gas|greenhouse gases]]. For example, in the case of the [[Earth]], the surface emits 390 W/m<sup>2</sup><ref>Watts per square metre</ref> (averaged over a year and the whole surface), but the emission at the top of the atmosphere is 235 W/m<sup>2</sup>, giving a global-average greenhouse effect of 155 W/m<sup>2</sup><ref name="Tren96">Trenberth, K, <i>et al</i>., 1996. in <i>Climate Change 1995: The Science of Climate Change</i>, Cambridge Univ. Press.</ref>. The top-of-atmosphere outgoing radiation balances the incoming 235 W/m<sup>2</sup> of solar radiation (342 W/m<sup>2</sup> incident minus 107 W/m<sup>2</sup> reflected).


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== References and Notes ==  
== References and Notes ==  
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<references/>  
== Additional Bibliography ==
* Thomas, GE, and K Stamnes, 1999. <i>Radiative Transfer in the Atmosphere and Ocean</i>, Cambridge Univ. Press.


[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:Earth Sciences Workgroup]]
[[Category:Earth Sciences Workgroup]]

Revision as of 22:31, 3 February 2007

The Greenhouse Effect (or "atmospheric effect") is a general attribute of planets and moons with atmospheres. It is an imbalance between surface radiation and top-of-atmosphere radiation due to the presence of greenhouse gases. For example, in the case of the Earth, the surface emits 390 W/m2[1] (averaged over a year and the whole surface), but the emission at the top of the atmosphere is 235 W/m2, giving a global-average greenhouse effect of 155 W/m2[2]. The top-of-atmosphere outgoing radiation balances the incoming 235 W/m2 of solar radiation (342 W/m2 incident minus 107 W/m2 reflected).

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References and Notes

  1. Watts per square metre
  2. Trenberth, K, et al., 1996. in Climate Change 1995: The Science of Climate Change, Cambridge Univ. Press.

Additional Bibliography

  • Thomas, GE, and K Stamnes, 1999. Radiative Transfer in the Atmosphere and Ocean, Cambridge Univ. Press.