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To: DB
From the Cambridge Atlas of Astronomy Third Edition, page 96: [Fair use provisions!]

"Only 49 percent of the available solar radiation reaches the surface of our planet [all types - my comment], 5 percent through direct radiation, 22 percent through clouds and 22 percent by downwards scattering in the atmosphere".

In other words, 95% is initially absorbed and some of that reaches the Earth through convection.
361 posted on 09/29/2004 1:50:32 AM PDT by ableChair
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To: ableChair

Sorry, absorbed and scattered are not the same thing.

Absorbed means just that. Whatever absorbed the sun's energy would then radiate long wave heat. A substantially different wavelength than the initial wavelength being absorbed.

Scattered means just that, bounced around like mirrors until it finally reaches the earth. In this case the energy was not absorbed in the atmosphere and no long wave heat was radiated by the atmosphere (due to this mechanism). The energy retains its original wavelength because it is the same energy from the sun just taking a longer path down.


367 posted on 09/29/2004 2:00:07 AM PDT by DB (©)
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To: ableChair

"Only 49 percent of the available solar radiation reaches the surface of our planet [all types - my comment], 5 percent through direct radiation, 22 percent through clouds and 22 percent by downwards scattering in the atmosphere".

That doesn't say that 95 percent is absorbed. It says that 49 percent gets through. Yes, of course, if you consider clouds, out laser-terrorist is going to be out of luck on a foggy day.


383 posted on 09/29/2004 2:34:09 AM PDT by Dan Evans
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To: ableChair
"Only 49 percent of the available solar radiation reaches the surface of our planet [all types - my comment], 5 percent through direct radiation, 22 percent through clouds and 22 percent by downwards scattering in the atmosphere".

In other words, 95% is initially absorbed and some of that reaches the Earth through convection.

Just on a simple math level, your contention doesn't add up.

The Cambridge Atlas says of all available solar radiation, 49% reaches the surface of the planet. Therefore, 51% never reaches the surface of the planet, and best I can tell, is never accounted for in THIS balance.

The balance doesn't account for 51% of the energy. How do you know that the 51% "is initially absorbed"?

FWIW, a clinical view of "convection" has it transferring energy "up" as a column of warm fluid rises through cooler, more dense fluid. You may instead be thinking of diffuse (vs. direct) radiation, and conduction.

394 posted on 09/29/2004 2:51:43 AM PDT by Cboldt
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