Greenhouse effect: Difference between revisions
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This article is a stub and is being actively worked on. | |||
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). The term "greenhouse effect" is something of a misnomer, since actual [[greenhouse]]s operate by a different mechanism. | |||
== The Greenhouse and the Planets == | |||
== The Physics of the Greenhouse == | |||
== References and Notes == | == References and Notes == | ||
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== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
* [http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1762.html]<i>Astrobiology</i> article on Titan's very unusual greenhouse. | * [http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1762.html]<i>Astrobiology</i> article on [[Titan]]'s very unusual greenhouse. | ||
== Additional Bibliography == | == Additional Bibliography == | ||
Revision as of 14:14, 4 February 2007
This article is a stub and is being actively worked on.
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). The term "greenhouse effect" is something of a misnomer, since actual greenhouses operate by a different mechanism.
The Greenhouse and the Planets
The Physics of the Greenhouse
References and Notes
External Links
Additional Bibliography
- Houghton, JT, 19977. The Physics of Atmospheres, 3rd Ed, Cambridge Univ. Press.
- Thomas, GE, and K Stamnes, 1999. Radiative Transfer in the Atmosphere and Ocean, Cambridge Univ. Press.