Global Energy Balance, Radiative Forcing
Typical Exam Questions
1. In the IPCC Executive Summary for Chapter 2, the statement
is made: Over a 20 year period, the GWP (Global Warming
Potential) of equal mass emissions of gas is as follows:
CO2:1;CH4:63;N2O:270;CFC-11:4500;CFC-12:7100;HCFC-22:4100.
- A. Briefly explain what this states.
- B. Use these data to quantify the relative advantage of
burning methane to produce carbon dioxide rather than
releasing it directly as methane to the atmosphere.
- C. Use these data together with your understanding of the
stratospheric ozone problem to point out the advantage
of putting a hydrogen atom in the CFC.
2. Several years ago when there seemed to be a threat of global cooling and that
the earth might be entering a new ice age, it was suggested that carbon black
(fine soot) could be spread over large areas of the polar regions to warm the
planet.
- A. Aside from the ethical questions of this practice, compare warming due
to this effect with warming due to anthropogenic greenhouse gases.
- B. Consider both the effects on the visible and infrared portions of the global
energy balance. Which method would lead to more total heat in the earth's atmosphere
and why?