Effective Radiating T of Earth

lRadiation

emitted by a black body is proportional to the fourth power of its absolute T (F a T4) lEffective radiating T for Earth = 255 K, or -18 C, or 0 F lThis is the average T of Earth if it had no atmosphere. lDifference between Earths present average surface T (15 C) and its effective radiating T is due to the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere; this temperature difference is 33 C. That is, the atmosphere increases Earths average T by 33 C. lThe natural greenhouse effect is as important in determining Earths climate as is its distance from the sun.

Faint Young Sun

lWhat

was the surface T of the early Earth with a fainter sun? lSolar flux is predicted to be 30% less than today lCalculated effective radiating T is 233 K or -40 C lIf greenhouse effect was the same, then Earths surface T = 233 K + 33 K = 266 K, or -7 C lEarly Earth was not frozen; therefore greenhouse effect must have been greater then than it is now.

The early Earth had much higher atmospheric CO2 than today.

Decrease in atmospheric CO2 from higher amounts early in Earth history to the lower amount at the present time

Photosynthesis on land

Photosynthesis also occurs in the ocean, but only in the upper portion penetrated by sunlight; only respiration occurs in the dark part below the depth of light penetration.

Simplified Carbon Cycle

Atmosphere

PLANTS
Photosynthesis CO2 O2

ANIMALS
Respiration Burial

CO2 + H2O + nutrients <==> CH2O + O2

Forms of Carbon in the Earth System Atmosphere - carbon dioxide (CO2) Biosphere - living and dead organic matter Hydrosphere - dissolved and particulate organic C; dissolved inorganic C (HCO3-) Lithosphere - organic matter and CaCO3 (limestones)

Carbon is cycled through the terrestrial and marine ecosystems primarily by photosynthesis and respiration, although other processes also play a role in the Carbon Cycle.

The concept of steady state: if the rate of input equals the rate of output, then the size of the reservoir (such as the water in this bathtub) will be constant.

The major reservoirs in which carbon exists on Earth in one form or another: as a gas (CO2), in organisms, dissolved in the ocean, or locked up in sedimentary rocks.

Distribution of Oceanic Carbon

1015 g C
1000 800 600 400 200 0 90 860

30 POC

3 Plankton

0.2 Bacteria

Deep DOC Surf DOC

Types of Carbon

Most organic carbon in the ocean is in the form of non-living dissolved organic matter (DOC).

Oceanic and Land Carbon Pools

1016 g C 400 300 200 100 0 100 80 0.3 Soil OC Ocean OC Land Bio Ocean Bio Types of Carbon 300

Most organic carbon (OC) on land and in the ocean is in the form of non-living organic matter.

The rate at which carbon moves from one reservoir to another in a year: if the Carbon Cycle is balanced, inputs and outputs of each reservoir will be equal, and the reservoir sizes will neither increase nor decrease.

Reservoirs and exchange pathways in the short-term Carbon Cycle

Quick Summary
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C switches back and forth between the inorganic form and the organic form as it passes through the biological part of the cycle. C is transferred from one reservoir to another either as part of the short-term biological cycle or the long-term geological cycle.

Another view of the transfer of carbon from one reservoir to another with human activities (e.g., burning of fossil fuels, deforestation) now included. Human activities represent a net input of CO2 to the atmosphere because natural processes are in balance.

The increase in atmospheric CO2 since measurements began in the late 1950s.

Various human activities that add CO2 to the atmosphere

Geological processes such as volcanism and weathering also add and remove CO2 from the atmosphere. These processes affect atmospheric CO2 levels over very long periods of time. X

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Removal of C from the atmosphere by chemical weathering of silicate rocks. The C ends up in the ocean.

CO2 is one of the major products of volcanic activity. Most of this C is derived from sedimentary rocks that have been buried deeply within the Earth.

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The geological part of the Carbon Cycle involving burial of C in sedimentary rocks and then return of this C to the Earths surface during weathering of rocks and through volcanic activity.

Plate tectonic processes carry old ocean crust and sea floor sediments into the Earth. The high temperatures cause melting of these rocks leading to volcanoes and release of buried carbon.

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The relationship between temperature and precipitation on Earth. High temperatures and high rainfall lead to enhanced weathering and erosion of rocks.

A negative feedback diagram showing how an increase in temperature will cause an increase in chemical weathering and therefore a decrease in CO2.

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The same negative feedback diagram showing how a decrease in temperature causes a decrease in chemical weathering and therefore leads to less removal of CO2.

Feedbacks
l l

Feedbacks - responses of a system (e.g., climate) to a perturbation or change in the existing state Positive feedback - system responds to enhance or reenforce the initial change (i.e., the change is magnified or fed back) Negative feedback - system responds to diminish or cancel the initial change (i.e., the system attempts to return to its normal or undisturbed state)

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Negative feedback relationship between the rate of seafloor spreading (which affects input of CO2 to the atmosphere from volcanism) and the rate of chemical weathering (which affects removal of CO2) resulting in a relatively constant level of CO2 and a stable climate (neither too hot or too cold).

The long-term or geological part of the Carbon Cycle illustrating the importance of plate tectonics in replenishing CO2 used up in rock weathering.

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A model of the geological Carbon Cycle illustrating the input and removal processes that control the long-term concentration of atmospheric CO2.

Making a Habitable Planet

Planet orbits within the Habitable Zone - to allow liquid water to exist on its surface Stays within the HZ throughout the planets history - as its star heats up Large enough to hold an atmosphere with its gravity - to maintain a greenhouse Plate tectonics operates throughout the planets history - to replenish CO2

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Significance of Plate Tectonics to Life

Chemical rock weathering reactions will deplete the atmosphere of CO2 unless a mechanism exits to replenish it. Plate tectonic processes, especially volcanic activity, replenish the CO2 used up in rock weathering. Life cannot survive for very long on a planet without plate tectonics.

The Snowball Earth Hypothesis - did the Earth ever look like this, completely covered in ice?

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The geologists are showing a layer of rock (extending from their feet to their heads) that was deposited by melting glaciers. This layer is immediately overlain by one (above their heads) that was deposited in a tropical marine environment. Questions - did glaciers flow into the ocean in the tropics? If so, was the entire Earth frozen?

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The overlapping time frames for the Snowball Earth episodes and the appearance of animals. Did the frozen Earth create the opportunity for animals to evolve?

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