Here is the annual mean temperature as a function of pressure (=height) and latitude: Figure 1 – Click for a larger image We see that the equator is warmer than the poles and the surface is warmer than the upper troposphere (“troposphere” = lower atmosphere). No surprises. Here is “potential temperature”, whatever that is.. Figure [...]
Archive for the ‘Atmospheric Physics’ Category
Potential Temperature
Posted in Atmospheric Physics, Basic Science on February 12, 2012 | 27 Comments »
The Coriolis Effect and Geostrophic Motion
Posted in Atmospheric Physics, Basic Science on January 15, 2012 | 20 Comments »
The coriolis effect isn’t the easiest thing to get your head around, but it is an essential element in understanding the large scale motions of the atmosphere and the oceans. If you roll a ball along a flat frictionless surface it keeps going in the same direction. This is because objects that have no forces [...]
Radiative Forcing and the Surface Energy Balance
Posted in Atmospheric Physics, Basic Science on September 2, 2011 | 164 Comments »
In a discussion a little while ago on What’s the Palaver? – Kiehl and Trenberth 1997, one of our commenters asked about the surface forcing and how it could possibly lead to anything like the IPCC-projected temperature change for doubling of CO2. Following a request for clarification, he added: ..We first look at the RHS. We [...]
Paradigm Shifts in Convection and Water Vapor?
Posted in Atmospheric Physics, Basic Science on June 12, 2011 | 402 Comments »
During a discussion following one of the six articles on Ferenc Miskolczi someone pointed to an article in E&E (Energy & Environment). I took a look and had a few questions. The article is question is The Thermodynamic Relationship Between Surface Temperature And Water Vapor Concentration In The Troposphere, by William C. Gilbert from 2010. I’ll call this WG2010. [...]
The Mystery of Tau – Miskolczi – Part Six – Minor GHG’s
Posted in Atmospheric Physics on May 28, 2011 | 57 Comments »
In Part One I made the observation: If the atmosphere has an invariant optical thickness then surely all molecules should be included? Meaning all ‘radiatively-active’ gases. Then I cited some results from Collins (2006) on the ‘radiative forcing’ for other gases, and added: ..So if total optical thickness from CO2 and water vapor has stayed [...]
Understanding Atmospheric Radiation and the “Greenhouse” Effect – Part Twelve – Curve of Growth
Posted in Atmospheric Physics on April 30, 2011 | 8 Comments »
One question that has intrigued me for a while – how much of the transmittance (and change in transmittance) from CO2 in the atmosphere is caused by weak lines, and how much is caused by the “far wings” of individual lines. Take a look back at Part Nine. Here is the calculated change in transmittance [...]
The Mystery of Tau – Miskolczi
Posted in Atmospheric Physics, Commentary on April 22, 2011 | 60 Comments »
Many people have requested an analysis of Miskolczi’s theories. I start with his more recent paper: The Stable Stationary Value of the Earth’s Global Average Atmospheric Planck-Weighted Greenhouse-Gas Optical Thickness, Energy & Environment (2010). It’s an interesting paper and clearly Miskolczi has put a lot of time and effort into it. I recommend people read the paper [...]
Understanding Atmospheric Radiation and the “Greenhouse” Effect – Part Eleven – Heating Rates
Posted in Atmospheric Physics on April 21, 2011 | 32 Comments »
The subject of atmospheric heating rates is one which is worth spending time on. What is a heating rate? To see the usefulness of a heating rate let’s consider the per capita income of a country. Per capita income compares the ratio of total $ to the total population. If we compare the total income [...]
Understanding Atmospheric Radiation and the “Greenhouse” Effect – Part Ten
Posted in Atmospheric Physics on April 3, 2011 | 21 Comments »
In his excellent book, A First Course in Atmospheric Radiation, Grant Petty introduces a number of spectral measurements of atmospheric radiation which are very illuminating. In this article I am going to reproduce them, along with a lot of Petty’s comments and explanations – hard to improve on what he has to say. (See the [...]
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What’s the Palaver? – Kiehl and Trenberth 1997
Posted in Atmospheric Physics, Commentary on June 21, 2011 | 115 Comments »
A long time ago I started writing this article. I haven’t yet finished it. I realized that trying to write it was difficult because the audience criticism was so diverse. Come to me you huddled masses.. This paper, so simple in concept, has become somehow the draw card for “everyone against AGW”. The reasons why are [...]
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