First page Back Continue Last page Overview Graphics
GHG Forcing
The Energy Cycle
- CO2 captures 15u surface energy
- Collisions transfer energy to other gas molecules
- Some energy gets back to the surface
- The cycle repeats
Delays the release of surface energy
- GHG flux is a circulating flux
- Solar flux is an incident flux
Notes:
The effect of GHG absorption is to delay the release of surface energy, primarily from day to night. CO2 molecules capture a small portion of surface energy and transfer this energy to the other gas molecules in the atmosphere. Some of this energy escapes into space and the rest finds it's way back to the surface, where it's eventually re-radiated, starting the cycle again.
It's important to keep in mind that energy circulating in the GHG absorption cycle was incoming solar energy which has already 'forced' the system so it has no additional effect on the overall energy budget.
It's also important to recognize that the GHG absorption process transforms narrow band energy into broad band energy.