Energy in the Earth System

• Heating of Earth's surface and atmosphere by the sun drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents.
• Global climate is determined by energy transfer from the sun at and near the Earth's surface. This energy transfer is influenced by dynamic processes such as cloud cover and the Earth's rotation, and static conditions such as the position of mountain ranges and oceans.

The Origin and Evolution of the Earth System

• Interactions among the solid Earth, the oceans, the atmosphere, and organisms have resulted in the ongoing evolution of the Earth system.

Short Description: A study of the way a planet's atmosphere changes as its temperature is changed using exponential functions.

A very common way to describe the atmosphere of a planet is by its 'scale height'. This quantity represents the vertical distance above the surface at which the density or pressure if the atmosphere decreases by exactly 1/e or (2.718)^-1 times (equal to 0.368).

The scale height, usually represented by the variable H, depends on the strength of the planet's gravity field, the temperature of the gases in the atmosphere, and the masses of the individual atoms in the atmosphere. The equation to the left shows how all of these factors are related in a simple atmosphere model for the density P. The variables are:

z: Vertical altitude in meters
T: Temperature in Kelvin degrees
m: Average mass of atoms in kilograms
g: Acceleration of gravity in meters/sec²
k: Boltzmann's Constant 1.38x10^-23 J/deg

Problem 1 - For Earth, g = 9.81 meters/sec², T = 290 K. The atmosphere consists of 22% O2 (m= 2x2.67x10^-26 kg) and 78% N2 (m= 2x2.3x10^-26 kg). What is the scale height, H?

Problem 2 - Mars has an atmosphere of nearly 100% CO2 (m=7.3x10^-26 kg) at a temperature of about 210 Kelvins. What is the scale height H if g= 3.7 meters/sec²?

Problem 3 - The Moon has an atmosphere of nearly 100% sodium (m=6.6x10^-26 kg). If the scale height deduced from satellite observations is 120 kilometers, what is the temperature of the atmosphere if g= 1.6 meters/sec²?

Problem 4 - At what altitude on Earth would the density of the atmosphere P(z) be only 10% what it is at sea level, P₀?

Problem 5 - Calculate the total mass of the atmosphere in a column of air, below a height h with integral calculus. At what altitude, h, on Earth is half the atmosphere below you?

Answer Key

Problem 1 - Answer: First we have to calculate the average atomic mass. = 0.22 (2x2.67x10^-26 kg) + 0.78 (2x2.3x10^-26 kg) = 4.76x10^-26 kg. Then,

H = (1.38x10^-23)(290) / (4.76x10^-26)(9.81) = 8,570 meters or about 8.6 kilometers.

Problem 2 - Answer:

H = (1.38x10^-23)(210 / (7.3x10^-26)(3.7) = 10,700 meters or about 10.7 kilometers.

Problem 3 - Answer

T = (6.6x10-²⁶)(1.6)(120000) / (1.38x10^-23) = 918 Kelvins.

Problem 4 - Answer: 0.1 = e^-(z/H), Take ln of both sides, ln(0.1) = -z/H then z = 2.3 H so for H= 8.6 km, z =19.8 kilometers.

Problem 5 - First calculate the total mass:

Then subtract the portion above you:

To get: dm(h) = P₀He^-h

So 1/2 = e^-h/H and h = ln(2)(8.6 km) and so the height is 6 kilometers!