Radiation

G109:
4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation
4. S OLAR & T ERRESTRIAL R ADIATION

P ART I:
R ADIATION
Reading Assignment:
A&B:
Ch. 2
(p. 43-53)
LM:
Lab. 5
1. Introduction
Radiation = Mode of Energy transfer
by electromagnetic waves
only mode to transfer energy without the
presence of a substance (fluid or solid)
works best in a vacuum (empty space)
Radiation = the only way for Earth to receive
energy from the Sun
Weather systems are powered by radiation
From Earth-Sun geometry we know:
spatial and temporal variations of receipt of
radiation at the top of the atmosphere
From Atmospheric Composition: important for
radiation at the surface
O3 UV radiation, shortwave
H2O & CO2 IR radiation, greenhouse, longwave
need to consider different types of radiation
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
2. Electromagnetic Radiation
radiation waves exhibit characteristics of both electric
fields and magnetic fields
(from A&B, Figure 2-5 a)
Electromagnetic radiation moves at speed of light

radiation spreads in all directions and moves in
straight lines
(from A&B, Figure 2-9)
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
Electromagnetic radiation is described by three

interdependent variables:
wavelength
lambda
[m, m]
frequency
nu
[s-1, Hz]
velocity
c
[m s-1]
(c = speed of light ~ 3 108 m s-1)
=c
3. Radiation Spectrum
Definition:
The Radiation Spectrum is the distribution of radiative
energy over different wavelengths, or frequencies.
In meteorology: only small part of EM-spectrum of
interest.
three important ranges:
ultraviolet radiation (UV)
visible radiation
infrared radiation (IR)
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
Radiation in the Earth-Atmosphere System

Wavelength
Effect
Ultraviolet Radiation
UV
10-2 0.4 m
Sunburn
Class
sun output
Earth output
shortwave radiation:
longwave radiation:
Radiation.doc
Visible Radiation
0.4 0.7 m
sunlight
0.4 m
violet
blue
0.5 m
green
yellow
0.6 m
orange
0.7 m
red
Infrared Radiation
IR
0.7 100 m
heat-radiation
near IR
far IR
0.7-1.5 1.5 100
[m]
[m]
Shortwave radiation
7%
0%
43 %
0%
37 %
~0 %
only solar radiation

IR radiation emitted by the E/A-system
9/12/03
longwave
radiation
11 %
~ 100 %
G109:
4. Radiation Laws
Read: A&B Chapter 2, p 35-39
(i)
General Principles
all things emit radiation

o the amount and wavelengths depend primarily on
the emission temperature
o higher the T faster the electrons vibrate
shorter wavelength
more total radiation emitted
when any radiation is absorbed by an object:
increase in molecular motion
increase in temperature
(ii)
Black Bodies and Gray Bodies

an object or body that absorbs all radiation incident
on it is termed a black body
idealization: perfect black bodies do not exist
often a good approximation for absorption in a
given range of wavelengths
many natural substances behave nearly like black
bodies
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
a black body is also an ideal emitter

emission spectrum follows a general law
(Plancks curve) describing the maximum
possible emission for a given temperature
is often used as comparison standard for
emission spectrum
a black body has an ideal emission efficiency,
termed emissivity:
=1
an object or body with a less than ideal emission

efficiency (same at all wavelengths) is termed a
gray body:
a gray body has a non-ideal emission
efficiency: emissivity
<
is often a good approximation for emission
spectra of real objects or bodies
(iii) Reflection Absorption Transmission
only three things can happen, when radiation with a

wavelength, , hits an object or substance:
1. part or all can be reflected:
fraction reflected: reflectivity,

this part does not interact with the object, it is
rejected
2. part or all can be absorbed:
fraction absorbed: absorptivity, a
this part raises the temperature of the object
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
radiative energy is converted to heat

3. part or all can be transmitted:
t
fraction transmitted: transmissivity,
this part does not interact with the object, it just
goes through it.
Since these are the only possibilities, it follows from the
principle of conservation:
+ a + t = 1
(iv) Stefan-Boltzmann Law:
the total emitted energy flux
All objects or substances emit radiation at a rate
proportional to the 4th power of their absolute
temperature
Total energy flux emitted: Ftot [W m-2] :
Ftot = T
emissivity (0 ~ 1); depends on quality of material

(see Lab Manual #5 for list of values)
Stefan-Boltzmann constant = 5.67 10-8 [W m-2 K-4]

T absolute temperature of emitting object [K]
T4 fourth power: faster than linear increase with
temperature.
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
18000
4th power
16000
Ftot [W/m2]
14000
12000
16 x (= 2 )
10000
8000
6000
linear
4000
2x
2000
0
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
T [K]
Example Problem
(see web under this topic for more exercise problems)
If a cloud bottom has a temperature of 10 C, how much
energy would it be emitting if the emmissivity were 1.0?
Solution
convert temperature to SI-unit:
[C] [K]
T = (-10 C) + 273.15 = 263.15 K

use Stefan-Boltzmann law for = 1 (black body):
Fcloud = T4 = 1 x 5.6710-8 x (263.15)4
= 271.9 W m-2
Check units: units okay physics okay.
[T4] = [1] x [W m-2 K-4] x [K4] = [W m-2] 9
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
(v)
Wiens Displacement Law:
the wavelength of maximum emittance

A rise of temperature in an object not only increases
the total radiant output, but also shifts this energy
output to shorter wavelengths, in inverse
proportion to the absolute temperature
Wavelength of maximum emmittance: max [m] :
max
a
= = a T 1
T
1040
1038
5800 K
4000 K
2000 K
1000 K
500 K
255 K
Te
m
pe
1036
ra
tu
1034
re
Blackbody Irradiance x [W.m-2]
max wavelength [m]

a
constant: 2898 [m K]
T
absolute temperature [K]
1032
10-7
10-6
10-5
10-4
10 -3
Wavelength [m]
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
10
Example Problem
(see web under this topic for more exercise problems)
If a cloud bottom has a temperature of -10C what is the
wavelength of the peak energy emission? What part of
the electromagnetic spectrum is this in?
Solution
convert temperature to SI-unit:
[C] [K]
T = (-10 C) + 273.15 = 263.15 K

use Wiens law:
max = aT-1
= 2898 263.15 = 11.0 m
Check units: units okay physics okay.

[aT-1] = [mK] x [K-1] = [m] 9
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
11
P ART II: A TMOSPHERIC I NFLUENCES

ON R ADIATION
Reading Assignment:
A&B:
Ch. 3
(p. 68-76)
LM:
Lab. 5
1. Introduction
Global Shortwave Radiation Balance (overview)
~ 30 % of solar radiation is reflected by clouds,
atmospheric gases and the surface
~ 25 % of solar radiation is absorbed by the
atmosphere (clouds, atmospheric gases, aerosol)
~ 45 % of solar radiation is absorbed by the surface
(oceans, land surface)
Influence of Clouds on Shortwave Radiation Balance
Clear conditions (no clouds):
o ~ 70 % of solar radiation is absorbed by the surface
(55% direct, 15% diffuse sky radiation)
o only ~ 13 % of solar radiation is reflected
Cloudy conditions (overcast):
o ~ 25 % of solar radiation is absorbed by the surface
sky radiation)
(4% direct,
o 51 % of solar radiation is reflected
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
12
2. Reflection and Scattering of Radiation

Reflection: redirection of radiation by a surface
Specular Reflection
(Mirror)
Diffuse Reflection or
Scattering
Scattering by gas molecules or small particles/droplets
(from A&B, Figures 3-2, and (Phys.Princ. 2-2) 1)

Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
Blue Sky and
:
Rayleigh and
13
Scattering
(from A&B, Figure (Spec. Int. 3-1) 1)
Air Molecules tend to scatter Short Wavelengths

more, and in all directions
the blue end of the visible range
diffuse (sky) radiation appears as blue
Particles (droplets, aerosol) tend to scatter All

Wavelengths equally, and more forwards than
backwards (backscatter ~ reflection)
mixture of all wavelengths: white light
clouds, fog, haze appear as white, gray or milky
short-wave reflectance: the albedo (~ whiteness)
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
14
3. Transmission of Radiation through the

Atmosphere
Transmission: the amount of radiation that is left,
after going through the atmosphere
(from A&B, Figure (Spec. Int. 3-1) 3)
a) At the top of the atmosphere white (sun-) light is

started to be scattered: mostly the blue portion
b) As radiation proceeds through the atmosphere, more
of the blue portion is scattered away from the direct
beam (further transmitted as diffuse radiation)
multiple scattering
c) At the surface mostly the red light is left in the
direct beam sun appears red at sunset/sunrise
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
15
4. Absorption of Radiation in the Atmosphere

Absorption: conversion of radiation to heat
raises the temperature of the
absorbing substance
Kirchoffs law: if a substance is an efficient emitter in a
given wavelength range, it is also an
efficient absorber at the same wavelength
range:
=
Selective absorption: the absorptivities of atmospheric
gases are highly specific to certain spectral bands or
wavelength ranges
solar radiation (shortwave) absorbers:
o UV-absorbers: ozone (O3), oxygen (O2)

o visible range (0.4 - 0.7 m): almost none
(window)
terrestrial radiation (longwave) absorbers:
o IR absorbers: H2O, CO2, N2O, O3, O2
o peak terrestrial radiation (8 - 12 m):almost none
(window)
The atmosphere is transparent for solar radiation,
but nearly opaque for terrestrial radiation:
greenhouse radiation trap
Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
16
Atmospheric Windows for Radiation

Window:
something that lets light (radiation) through
Atmospheric Window: a spectral range where the

atmosphere is nearly transparent
There are two atmospheric windows:
visible range window (0.4 - 0.7 m):
lets most solar radiation through to the surface
enables solar radiation to deliver the bulk of its
energy to the surface (for use in climate processes)
longwave window (8 - 12 m):
lets some terrestrial radiation through to space
enables Earth to vent off some of its energy back to
space
(from A&B, Figure 3-6a)

Radiation.doc
9/12/03
G109:
17
What happens if the windows are closed?

visible range window (0.4 - 0.7 m):
o increased cloud cover, and/or reflective aerosol
o increase in global albedo
o reduction of energy input into E/A system
o cooling effect
longwave window (8 - 12 m):
o increased H2O, CO2 or other greenhouse gases
o increased IR-absorption in atmosphere
o warming effect The Greenhouse Effect
(more accurately: the enhanced Greenhouse Effect)
source:
http://www.fe.doe.gov/issues/climatechange/globalclimate_whatis.html
(Jan. 22, 2001)
Radiation.doc
9/12/03

Radiation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Radiation

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Radiation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

G109:

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

4. S OLAR & T ERRESTRIAL R ADIATION

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

(from A&B, Figure 2-5 a)

Electromagnetic radiation moves at speed of light

(from A&B, Figure 2-9)

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

Electromagnetic radiation is described by three

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

Radiation in the Earth-Atmosphere System

only solar radiation

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

all things emit radiation

Black Bodies and Gray Bodies

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

a black body is also an ideal emitter

an object or body with a less than ideal emission

(iii) Reflection Absorption Transmission

only three things can happen, when radiation with a

1. part or all can be reflected:

fraction reflected: reflectivity,

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

radiative energy is converted to heat

emissivity (0 ~ 1); depends on quality of material

Stefan-Boltzmann constant = 5.67 10-8 [W m-2 K-4]

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

T = (-10 C) + 273.15 = 263.15 K

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

Wiens Displacement Law:

the wavelength of maximum emittance

Blackbody Irradiance x [W.m-2]

max wavelength [m]

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

T = (-10 C) + 273.15 = 263.15 K

= 2898 263.15 = 11.0 m

Check units: units okay physics okay.

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

P ART II: A TMOSPHERIC I NFLUENCES

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

2. Reflection and Scattering of Radiation

Scattering by gas molecules or small particles/droplets

(from A&B, Figures 3-2, and (Phys.Princ. 2-2) 1)

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

Blue Sky and

(from A&B, Figure (Spec. Int. 3-1) 1)

Air Molecules tend to scatter Short Wavelengths

Particles (droplets, aerosol) tend to scatter All

short-wave reflectance: the albedo (~ whiteness)

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

3. Transmission of Radiation through the

(from A&B, Figure (Spec. Int. 3-1) 3)

a) At the top of the atmosphere white (sun-) light is

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

4. Absorption of Radiation in the Atmosphere

o UV-absorbers: ozone (O3), oxygen (O2)

4. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation

Atmospheric Windows for Radiation

something that lets light (radiation) through

Atmospheric Window: a spectral range where the