Earth System Change (ESS101C)

Course Outline

Syllabus

Slide 4

Components of the Climate System

Properties of the Subcomponents

Subcomponent: the Atmosphere

Subcomponent: Global Oceans

Land Surface

Global Energy Cycle

Solar Flux and Flux Density

Solar Flux Density Reaching Earth

Solar Energy Incident On the Earth

Solar Energy Absorbed by Earth

What Happens After the Earth Absorbs Solar Energy?

Blackbody Radiation

Planck Function

Energy Emitted from Earth

Planetary Energy Balance

Different Wavelengths of Solar and Earth’s Radiation

Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Gases

Where Does the Solar Energy Go?

Where Is Earth’s Radiation Emitted From?

Important Roles of Clouds In Global Climate

Polarward Energy Transport

How Do Atmosphere and Ocean Transport Heat?

How Surface and Deep Ocean Circulation Are Driven?

What Do We Learn About the Global Energy Cycle?

Global Water Cycle

Interaction Processes

Water Balance