EARTH 002: GAIA-THE EARTH SYSTEM

Fall 2009

PROBLEM SET #2 (Due Fri Sep 25)

 

 

1. KCC Chapter #3, Critical-Thinking Problem #2

 

2. KCC Chapter #3, Critical-Thinking Problem #4, but with the following modifications:

Assume a lapse rate of 6.5C/km (more accurate) rather than the value (6C/km) stated in the book:

(i) Use the pre-industrial Earth surface temperature (288K) specified in the problem.

(ii) Redo the calculation taking into account the global warming of roughly 1C relative to pre-industrial conditions.

(iii) Redo the calculation using a mid-range estimate of additional 21st century warming expected to result from ‘business as usual’ fossil fuel burning (use a mid-range value for the warming at 2100 in the greenhouse emissions scenario ‘A1B’ shown in class).

(iv) Based on your answers, what is the change in the effective altitude of emission to space that we would expect (relative to pre-industrial conditions) due to projected 21st century fossil fuel burning?

 

3. KCC Chapter #3, Critical-Thinking Problem #5

 

4. KCC Chapter #3, Critical-Thinking Problem #6