Terrestrial Radiation from Cloudy Skies

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What is the main difference between terrestrial radiation from cloudy skies and cloudless skies?

Cloudy skies have more accurate climatological studies of radiation balance.

Cloudless skies are not affected by rapid air temperature changes near the surface.

Cloudy skies are more accurate for micrometeorological analyses over short periods.

Cloudless skies have more direct functional relationships with radiative fluxes. (correct)

Which weather conditions make the statistical correlations for terrestrial radiation most accurate?

Exceptionally dry air.

Humid air near the surface.

Gradual changes in air temperature near the surface. (correct)

Rapid increase or decrease in air temperature.

What does net radiation received by a horizontal surface include?

Total flux and radiant flux received at the ground. (correct)

Only upward radiative flux.

Reflection coefficient.

Only downward radiative flux.

Which type of radiation is categorized as upward radiative flux?

Outward long-wave radiation. Signup and view all the answers

What does downward radiative flux represent?

Radiation received at the ground. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main factor affecting the spectral distribution of direct, diffuse, and total solar radiation?

Precipitable water Signup and view all the answers

On a cloudless day, where is most of the radiation emitted by the Earth's surface absorbed within the atmosphere?

In specific wavebands by atmospheric gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the energy absorbed by atmospheric gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide?

It is re-radiated in all directions Signup and view all the answers

To maintain equilibrium, what must balance the average net gain from solar radiation for the Earth as a planet?

Long-wave radiative energy loss to space Signup and view all the answers

Which factor has a maximum energy per unit wavelength at around 0.46 μm?

Aerosol optical depth Signup and view all the answers

Where does much of the atmospheric radiation that reaches the Earth's surface originate from?

Gases close to the surface Signup and view all the answers

What is the fraction of solar radiation scattered to space from clouds and the surface, denoted as ρE?

0.30 Signup and view all the answers

Which law is used to compute the temperature corresponding to an equivalent black-body temperature of the earth viewed from space?

Stefan-Boltzmann Law Signup and view all the answers

What is the value of the emitted radiative flux density (emittance) to space, denoted as L?

238 Wm−2 Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon is commonly called the greenhouse effect?

The low black-body temperature compared to surface temperature due to atmospheric gases Signup and view all the answers

How can the upward radiative flux Lu from a surface be measured?

Measuring the surface temperature and emissivity Signup and view all the answers

How can the downward radiative flux Ld from the atmosphere be estimated?

Calculating from knowledge of temperature and water vapor distribution in the atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

Terrestrial Radiation from Cloudy Skies

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