ASCL Workshop— Boulder, COASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental ConceptsFundamental Conceptsfor Essential Principal:for Essential Principal:

Solar energy drives Solar energy drives many atmospheric many atmospheric

processes.processes.

Breakout session: Breakout session: 7b7b

Recorder: Rob PayoRecorder: Rob Payo

Reporter: Wendy AbshireReporter: Wendy Abshire

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Initial CommentsInitial Comments

Added a new FC (split one FC into two)Added a new FC (split one FC into two)

Would like work on revising the EP statement:Would like work on revising the EP statement:► Delete solar?Delete solar?► Modifier, qualifier on solar ( primarily, most Modifier, qualifier on solar ( primarily, most

significant)significant)► Whole new rewording: Solar energy is the primary Whole new rewording: Solar energy is the primary

source of energy that drives the Earth’s source of energy that drives the Earth’s atmosphere.atmosphere.

► Energy sources drive many atmospheric processes.Energy sources drive many atmospheric processes.► Solar energy, gravity, and the Earth’s rotation are Solar energy, gravity, and the Earth’s rotation are

responsible for many atmospheric processes.responsible for many atmospheric processes.

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #1Fundamental Concept #1

►The atmosphere receives energy from The atmosphere receives energy from the sun, some of which is absorbed, the sun, some of which is absorbed, some scattered back to space, and some scattered back to space, and some transmitted to the surface. some transmitted to the surface.

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #2Fundamental Concept #2

►Solar energy is transformed into other Solar energy is transformed into other forms of energy.forms of energy.

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #3:Fundamental Concept #3:

Energy imbalances create movement in Energy imbalances create movement in the atmosphere and ocean.the atmosphere and ocean.

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #4:Fundamental Concept #4:

► Incoming solar energy is not constant. Incoming solar energy is not constant.

(Due to astronomical factors including: (Due to astronomical factors including: The tilt of the Earth’s axis, the Earth’s The tilt of the Earth’s axis, the Earth’s orbit around the sun, the spherical orbit around the sun, the spherical shape of the Earth, variations in the shape of the Earth, variations in the sunlight received by different places on sunlight received by different places on the Earth, variations in solar output) the Earth, variations in solar output)

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #5:Fundamental Concept #5:

►Solar energy drives chemical reactions Solar energy drives chemical reactions in the atmosphere, (e.g., formation of in the atmosphere, (e.g., formation of smog, formation and destruction of smog, formation and destruction of ozone, and near the Earth’s surface: ozone, and near the Earth’s surface: photosynthesis.)photosynthesis.)

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #6:Fundamental Concept #6:

Atmospheric gases are selective Atmospheric gases are selective absorbers of radiation (e.g. absorbers of radiation (e.g. Greenhouse Effect) Greenhouse Effect)

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #7:Fundamental Concept #7:

►At the Earth’s surface, there is net At the Earth’s surface, there is net radiational heating. This heat is radiational heating. This heat is transferred to the atmosphere via transferred to the atmosphere via conduction and convection, plus conduction and convection, plus evaporation of water, followed by evaporation of water, followed by cloud formation. For example, these cloud formation. For example, these two processes are combined in a two processes are combined in a thunderstorm.thunderstorm.

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #1 Fundamental Concept #1 DiscussionDiscussion

► Solar energy enters the atmosphere over the Solar energy enters the atmosphere over the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Solar entire electromagnetic spectrum. Solar energy is transformed into other forms of energy is transformed into other forms of energy, including energy stored in fossil fuels.energy, including energy stored in fossil fuels.

Notes: cut EM section, combine sentences Notes: cut EM section, combine sentences w/ucar and goddard, some reflective w/ucar and goddard, some reflective radiation is scattered (reflection is a special radiation is scattered (reflection is a special case of scattering), goddard one is nice case of scattering), goddard one is nice beginning, one of energy transformationbeginning, one of energy transformation

Split out UCAR and Goddard concepts into two Split out UCAR and Goddard concepts into two separate onesseparate ones

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #2: Fundamental Concept #2: DiscussionDiscussion

► The Sun warms the Earth. The Earth cools by The Sun warms the Earth. The Earth cools by emitting long wave radiation. Unequal heating of emitting long wave radiation. Unequal heating of the Earth drives winds and ocean currents. the Earth drives winds and ocean currents.

Notes: Unequal heating of the earth surface drives Notes: Unequal heating of the earth surface drives atmosphere and ocean circulation. Evap cooling is atmosphere and ocean circulation. Evap cooling is more imp than radiative flux. Unequal heating of more imp than radiative flux. Unequal heating of the Earth causes movement in the atmosphere (and the Earth causes movement in the atmosphere (and oceans).oceans).

Difference btwn incoming and outgoing radiation Difference btwn incoming and outgoing radiation (both long and short wave)(both long and short wave)

Energy imbalances create movement in the Energy imbalances create movement in the atmosphere and ocean.atmosphere and ocean.

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #3: Fundamental Concept #3: DiscussionDiscussion

► Variations in incoming solar energy exist. These variations Variations in incoming solar energy exist. These variations are caused by: The tilt of the Earth’s axis, the Earth’s orbit are caused by: The tilt of the Earth’s axis, the Earth’s orbit around the sun, the spherical shape of the Earth, variations in around the sun, the spherical shape of the Earth, variations in the sunlight received by different places on the Earth, the sunlight received by different places on the Earth, variations in solar output, variations in solar output,

► This drives seasons, diurnal cycles, This drives seasons, diurnal cycles, ► Notes: Expand beyond seasonal diff, incl malankovich cycles Notes: Expand beyond seasonal diff, incl malankovich cycles

(geo variations)(geo variations)Variations on diff time scales causing seasonsVariations on diff time scales causing seasonsTilt and rotational axis responsible for seasons, variation of Tilt and rotational axis responsible for seasons, variation of

sunlight responsible for seasons.sunlight responsible for seasons.Imbalance of radiation—what happens to that energy? Imbalance of radiation—what happens to that energy?

(conduction, evap, convection)(conduction, evap, convection)Global scale: in general, balance from incoming and out, but Global scale: in general, balance from incoming and out, but

locally (geographically) there are imbalances that lead to locally (geographically) there are imbalances that lead to motionmotion

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #5: Fundamental Concept #5: DiscussionDiscussion

►Solar energy drives chemical reactions Solar energy drives chemical reactions in the atmosphere, (e.g., formation of in the atmosphere, (e.g., formation of smog, formation and destruction of smog, formation and destruction of ozone, and near the Earth’s surface: ozone, and near the Earth’s surface: photosynthesis.photosynthesis.

Notes: Photosyn is a land and oceanic Notes: Photosyn is a land and oceanic process and not an atm processprocess and not an atm process

Separate photosyn into sep conceptSeparate photosyn into sep concept

ASCL Workshop— Boulder, CO

Fundamental Concept #6: Fundamental Concept #6: DiscussionDiscussion

► The Greenhouse Effect is necessary for life to exist on Earth. Planets The Greenhouse Effect is necessary for life to exist on Earth. Planets balance (equilibrium) the energy received with the energy radiated.balance (equilibrium) the energy received with the energy radiated.

Notes: Two different concepts vs oneNotes: Two different concepts vs oneIssue of balance: dealt in other FCs. Is this the best place to address Issue of balance: dealt in other FCs. Is this the best place to address

this?this?All planets have an equilibriumAll planets have an equilibriumGreenhouse needs to be a separate FC.Greenhouse needs to be a separate FC.Imbalance of the Greenhouse Effect: the heating up of the Greenhouse Imbalance of the Greenhouse Effect: the heating up of the Greenhouse

effect effect Should the Greenhouse effect be singled out as a process listed as a Should the Greenhouse effect be singled out as a process listed as a

fundamental concept?fundamental concept?Perhaps generic: chemistry related notionPerhaps generic: chemistry related notionA definition of the greenhouse effect as an FC to then develop further A definition of the greenhouse effect as an FC to then develop further

down the line. (The greenhouse effect refers to….)down the line. (The greenhouse effect refers to….)Atmospheric gases are selective absorbers of radiation (e.g. Atmospheric gases are selective absorbers of radiation (e.g.

Greenhouse Effect) Greenhouse Effect)