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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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To: Cboldt

You're kidding right? You guys will argue anything to be right! Did you read the part about "available" radiation? Obviously the remaining percent was not ignored. Perhaps that's the reflected light, I don't know, but I doubt Cambridge made THAT big of an error.


396 posted on 09/29/2004 2:54:11 AM PDT by ableChair
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To: Cboldt

Why is it so hard for some people to accept readily verifiable facts? Go to a library and read the Atlas. It's all there. Just be sure you read it correctly and you look at RADIATIVE sunlight reaching the surface as that's what's relevant for the laser discussion.


398 posted on 09/29/2004 2:55:47 AM PDT by ableChair
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