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 ‘Basic Science’ Category
Potential Temperature
Posted in Atmospheric Physics, Basic Science on February 12, 2012 | 27 Comments »
Density, Stability and Motion in Fluids
Posted in Basic Science on February 9, 2012 | 3 Comments »
While writing an article on Lapse Rates and Potential Temperature I realized, from questions on this blog and from comments on other blogs, that the subject of stability perhaps wasn’t so clear. So in advance of that article, here are some basics on stability and density in fluids. Science, unlike for example most of history and politics, [...]
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 [...]
Kramm & Dlugi On Dodging the “Greenhouse” Bullet
Posted in Basic Science, Commentary on January 5, 2012 | 111 Comments »
In Kramm & Dlugi On Illuminating the Confusion of the Unclear I pointed out that the authors of Scrutinizing the atmospheric greenhouse effect and its climatic impact are in agreement with climate science on the subject of “back radiation” from the atmosphere contributing to the surface temperature. No surprise to people familiar with the basics of radiative [...]
Kramm & Dlugi On Illuminating the Confusion of the Unclear
Posted in Basic Science, Commentary on January 3, 2012 | 156 Comments »
Many people are confused about science basics when it comes to the inappropriately-named “greenhouse” effect. This can be easily demonstrated in many blogs around the internet where commenters, and even blog owners, embrace multiple theories that contradict each other but are somehow against the “greenhouse” effect. Recently a new paper: Scrutinizing the atmospheric greenhouse effect [...]
The Creation of Time
Posted in Basic Science on November 17, 2011 | 18 Comments »
We all would like this machine that creates time. In the context of Science of Doom all my time has been diverted into work-related activities and I’m not sure when this will ease up. Unless someone hands me this machine, and for a price well below market worth, I am not sure when my next [...]
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. [...]
Water Vapor Trends – Part Two
Posted in Basic Science, Climate History on June 5, 2011 | 37 Comments »
In Part One we saw: some trends based on real radiosonde measurements some reasons why long term radiosonde measurements are problematic examples of radiosonde measurement “artifacts” from country to country the basis of reanalyses like NCEP/NCAR an interesting comparison of reanalyses against surface pressure measurements a comparison of reanalyses against one satellite measurement (SSMI) But [...]
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“Blah blah blah” vs Equations
Posted in Basic Science, Commentary on January 30, 2012 | 233 Comments »
It is not surprising that the people most confused about basic physics are the ones who can’t write down an equation for their idea. The same people are the most passionate defenders of their beliefs and I have no doubts about their sincerity. I’ll meander into what it is I want to explain.. I found [...]
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