Questions for CM8001-AE 4
1. Understanding Earth’s energy balance is essential to understanding the issue of global warming. For example, the solar energy striking Earth’s surface averages 168 watts per square meter (W/m^2), but the energy leaving Earth’s surface averages 390 W/m^2). Why isn’t Earth cooling rapidly?
According to Earth’s Radiation/Energy Budget, there are other factors to consider other than the energy from solar. “Back radiation” comes from the atmosphere and clouds provides 333 W/m^2 which is high enough to heat the earth surface and to keep the earth warm and hot. However, Earth’s Radiation/Energy Budget does not include anthropogenic emission which plays a big role in the warming of the earth surface. With the addition of all these activities caused by humans, the earth can never cool down.
2. Decide and explain whether the statement is correct or incorrect. Explain.
This statement is incorrect. We start off with with some definitions. Winter is defined as the coldest season of the year, in the northern hemisphere from December to February and in the southern hemisphere from June to August. Global warming refers to a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants. The general misconception about this question is the difference between weather and climate. The author is basically saying that just because it snowed at some places and the temperature decreased, the planet must not be warming. We experience winter as a result of Earth’s tilted axis as it revolves around the sun and so it will occur with or without global warming. Even though the planet is getting warmer, cold weather still happens in winter or at very high elevations or high latitudes year-round. Federal agencies, universities, and research centers around the world have all concluded that Earth is warming, hence it is wrong to assume that just because there is winter, it will help to lower the temperature of the earth and help with the situation of global warming. In conclusion, winter does not help in reducing global warming and checking Earth’s average surface temperature annually will help to determine the severity of global warming.
3. One of the first radar devices developed during World War II used microwave radiation of a specific wave range that triggers the rotation of water molecules. Why was the design not successful?
Firstly, the absorption of microwave radiation by water in the atmosphere might interfere with the detection of intended objects, hence the accuracy of the radar might diminish and information provided could not be depended on when attacks such as air strikes had to be conducted. Secondly, the triggering of rotation of water molecules with that specific wave range will also increase the temperature (average kinetic energy) of water when exposed to the radiation, leading to the accidental discovery of the microwave oven during the war.
4. Now that you have studies air quality (Unit 1), stratospheric ozone depletion (Unit 2), and global warming (Unit 3), which do you believe poses the most serious problem for you in the short run (pick one and explain)? In the long run (Pick one and explain why)?
In my opinion, all poses serious problems in the short and long run to a certain extent. However, I strongly believe that air quality is the most damaging to human health in the short run. Breathing is crucial for the human bodies to function and it is vital not only for human beings, but for all living things as well. The air we breathe in goes in directly into our blood and runs through the entire body. Not breathing for a few minutes could cause damaging outcome or even death. As such, having bad air quality in the environment will not only affect one area but the whole body.
On the other hand, I feel that ozone depletion would be the least harmful. When unwanted ultraviolet pierce through our atmosphere, health problems such as cancers would develop in our bodies. Although it will eventually cause death, it is still a very slow process as all the health problems are mostly carcinogenic.