Homework Help: PHYSICS

Posted by Sunshin3 on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 12:45pm.

Four billion years ago the Sun’s radiative output was 30% less than it is today.

(i) If we assume the radius of the sun is the same, and that the Earth’s atmosphere was the same as it is now (that is, the atmosphere absorbs 10% of the incoming solar radiation and 80% of the outgoing terrestrial radiation), estimate the average surface temperature of the Earth four billion years ago using a single layer atmosphere.

(ii) In fact, the Earth’s atmosphere was drastically different 4 billion years ago (15-20% CO2, 0% O2). Suppose the atmosphere absorbed 5% of the incoming radiation but 95% of the outgoing radiation. What would be the temperature of the early Earth surface and its atmosphere?

PHYSICS - drwls, Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 1:20pm
Check my answer that I posted yesterday. Show your work if you need further assistance.
PHYSICS - drwls, Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 1:32pm
It seems yesterday's question was not quite the same, but method of solution should be the same. Perform an energy balance, using the Stefan-Boltzmann Law.
http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1264307230

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