Answer to Question #118995 in Molecular Physics | Thermodynamics for hanieh

Question

Identify 3 process of thermodynamics that have an effect on global climate. Describe how they have an effect and how we could change the degree of effect that they have.

Answer 1

Answer: 1)Global warming is an increasing gradual increase in the temperature of the Earth's surface and ocean. Heating is provided not only by solar radiation, but mainly by internal sources (decomposition of potassium-40, gravitational differentiation). Experimental data show that solar cycles have little effect on the temperature rise at the depth of the oceans: the dynamics of ocean temperature does not repeat solar cycles, the temperature is constantly rising.

Global warming is associated with the greenhouse effect and is leading to climate change on a global scale.

2)The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon in the atmosphere of the Earth and other planets in which the energy of the sun's rays, reflected from the surface, cannot return to space because it is trapped by molecules of various gases, which leads to an increase in surface temperature. Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth's surface temperature would be estimated to be about 33 ° lower than it actually is, and would be -18 ° C.

3)Violation of the energy balance of the biosphere.

The main source of energy for many processes in the ecosystem is the sun. Compared to it, very little energy comes to the ecosystem from other sources (thermal energy from the bowels of the Earth - 0.04% of total solar radiation, tectonic movements - 0.0005%). Therefore, solar energy is used in the ecosystem most efficiently: it is able to be transformed into other types of energy (thermal, chemical, mechanical), thanks to it is the production of biomass, moisture, air circulation and more.

The general scheme of the flow and transformation of solar energy in the ecosystem is shown in Fig. 2.15. The upper limit of the atmosphere receives 2 cal / cm2min of solar energy. Passing through the atmosphere, it is weakened by atmospheric gases and dust. The degree of attenuation depends on the wavelength (frequency) of light.