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Earth Temperature without GHGs: Difference between revisions

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<onlyinclude>The [[temperature of the Earth]], as well as the [[greenhouse effect on other planets|temperature of other planets]], depends strongly on the composition of the [[atmosphere]] and how significant the effects of the [[greenhouse effect]] are.
<onlyinclude>The [[temperature of the Earth]], as well as the [[greenhouse effect on other planets|temperature of other planets]], depends strongly on the composition of the [[atmosphere]] and how significant the effects of the [[greenhouse effect]] are.


On Earth, the [[temperature]] is kept at a comfortable level since the atmosphere traps some of the [[radiant heat]] from the Sun, warming the surface and sustaining life. This trapping is done by greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, which absorbs some infrared heat radiation and reradiates some to the surface of the Earth, warming it.</onlyinclude><ref name="RE1">NASA's Cosmos. (May 7, 2015). ''Heating by the Greenhouse Effect'' [Online]. Available: http://ase.tufts.edu/cosmos/view_chapter.asp?id=21&page=1</ref> The warming influence on the Earth is crucial to the existence of life on Earth. Without the influence of the greenhouse effect on our planet, the average surface temperature would be 255 [[Kelvin]] - which can also be expressed as [[Celsius|-18°C]] or [[Fahrenheit|0°F]].<ref name="RE1"/> If this were the case, [[water]] on Earth would freeze and life as we know it would not exist. This is a significant temperature drop in comparison to the approximately 15°C average temperature on the Earth with the greenhouse effect.<ref>The Encyclopedia of Earth. (May 7, 2015). ''Greenhouse Effect'' [Online]. Available: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/153146/</ref>
On Earth, the [[temperature]] is kept at a comfortable level since the atmosphere traps some of the [[radiant heat]] from the Sun, warming the surface and sustaining life. This trapping is done by greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, which absorbs some infrared heat radiation and reradiates some to the surface of the Earth to warm it.</onlyinclude><ref name="RE1">NASA's Cosmos. (May 7, 2015). ''Heating by the Greenhouse Effect'' [Online]. Available: http://ase.tufts.edu/cosmos/view_chapter.asp?id=21&page=1</ref> The warming influence on the Earth is crucial to the existence of life on Earth. Without the influence of the greenhouse effect on our planet, the average surface temperature would be 255 [[Kelvin]] - which can also be expressed as [[Celsius|-18°C]] or [[Fahrenheit|0°F]].<ref name="RE1"/> If this were the case, [[water]] on Earth would freeze and life as we know it would not exist. This is a significant temperature drop in comparison to the approximately 15°C average temperature on the Earth with the greenhouse effect.<ref>The Encyclopedia of Earth. (May 7, 2015). ''Greenhouse Effect'' [Online]. Available: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/153146/</ref>


The temperature for the Earth if the greenhouse effect is not taken into account can be derived quickly from an expression of the [[Stefan-Boltzmann law]]. By accounting for the surface area of the Earth and the [[power]] from the Sun reaching the Earth, the equation is:<ref name="wolfson">R. Wolfson. (May 7, 2015). Environment and Climate, 2nd ed. New York, U.S.A. Norton, 2012, pp. 320-322</ref>
The temperature for the Earth if the greenhouse effect is not taken into account can be derived from the expression called the [[Stefan-Boltzmann law]]. By accounting for the surface area of the Earth and the [[power]] from the Sun reaching the Earth, the equation is as follows:<ref name="wolfson">R. Wolfson. (May 7, 2015). Environment and Climate, 2nd ed. New York, U.S.A. Norton, 2012, pp. 320-322</ref>


<center><m>S = 4 e \sigma T^4</m></center>
<center><math>S = 4 e \sigma T^4</math></center>


Where:
Where:
* <m>S</m> is the [[solar constant]], equal to approximately <m>1364 \frac{W}{m^2}</m>
* <math>S</math> is the [[solar constant]], equal to approximately <math>1364 \frac{W}{m^2}</math>
* <m>e</m> is the emissivity of an object, generally set to 1 for an ideal radiator
* <math>e</math> is the emissivity of an object, generally set to 1 for an ideal radiator
* <m> \sigma </m> is the [[Stefan-Boltzmann constant]]
* <math> \sigma </math> is the [[Stefan-Boltzmann constant]]
* <m> T </m> is the temperature of the Earth, in Kelvin
* <math> T </math> is the temperature of the Earth, in Kelvin


With accepted values in this equation, the theoretical average temperature of the Earth is:
With accepted values in this equation, the theoretical average temperature of the Earth is:




<center><m> 1364 \frac{W}{m^2} = 4 (1)(5.67 \times 10^{-8} \frac{W}{m^2K^4}) T^4</m></center>
<center><math> 1364 \frac{W}{m^2} = 4 (1)(5.67 \times 10^{-8} \frac{W}{m^2K^4}) T^4</math></center>




<center><m> T = (4.22 \times 10^9 K^4)^{1/4} = 255 K= -18</m>°C</center>
<center><math> T = (4.22 \times 10^9 K^4)^{1/4} = 255 K= -18</math>°C</center>
 
== For Further Reading ==
For further information please see the related pages below:
 
*[[Greenhouse effect on other planets]]
*[[Greenhouse gas]]
*[[Climate change]]
*[[Hydrocarbon combustion]]
*[[Special:Random|A random page]]
 
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Uploaded]]
[[Category:Uploaded]]

Revision as of 19:29, 11 May 2018

The temperature of the Earth, as well as the temperature of other planets, depends strongly on the composition of the atmosphere and how significant the effects of the greenhouse effect are.

On Earth, the temperature is kept at a comfortable level since the atmosphere traps some of the radiant heat from the Sun, warming the surface and sustaining life. This trapping is done by greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, which absorbs some infrared heat radiation and reradiates some to the surface of the Earth to warm it.[1] The warming influence on the Earth is crucial to the existence of life on Earth. Without the influence of the greenhouse effect on our planet, the average surface temperature would be 255 Kelvin - which can also be expressed as -18°C or 0°F.[1] If this were the case, water on Earth would freeze and life as we know it would not exist. This is a significant temperature drop in comparison to the approximately 15°C average temperature on the Earth with the greenhouse effect.[2]

The temperature for the Earth if the greenhouse effect is not taken into account can be derived from the expression called the Stefan-Boltzmann law. By accounting for the surface area of the Earth and the power from the Sun reaching the Earth, the equation is as follows:[3]

[math]S = 4 e \sigma T^4[/math]

Where:

  • [math]S[/math] is the solar constant, equal to approximately [math]1364 \frac{W}{m^2}[/math]
  • [math]e[/math] is the emissivity of an object, generally set to 1 for an ideal radiator
  • [math] \sigma [/math] is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant
  • [math] T [/math] is the temperature of the Earth, in Kelvin

With accepted values in this equation, the theoretical average temperature of the Earth is:


[math] 1364 \frac{W}{m^2} = 4 (1)(5.67 \times 10^{-8} \frac{W}{m^2K^4}) T^4[/math]


[math] T = (4.22 \times 10^9 K^4)^{1/4} = 255 K= -18[/math]°C

For Further Reading

For further information please see the related pages below:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 NASA's Cosmos. (May 7, 2015). Heating by the Greenhouse Effect [Online]. Available: http://ase.tufts.edu/cosmos/view_chapter.asp?id=21&page=1
  2. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Earth. (May 7, 2015). Greenhouse Effect [Online]. Available: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/153146/
  3. ↑ R. Wolfson. (May 7, 2015). Environment and Climate, 2nd ed. New York, U.S.A. Norton, 2012, pp. 320-322
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