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