The heat budget of the earth

Local temperature is the result of net energy and surface processes. Exam tip: connect temperature with net balance.

Heat budget is not only incoming energy but the account of the whole Earth atmosphere energy system. Exam tip: understand it as an integrated energy system.

When reflection increases less energy enters the Earth system. In exams remember reflection and absorption as inversely related.

Low albedo means lower reflection and higher absorption. In exams link dark surfaces with more heating.

Absorbed energy ultimately leaves as longwave energy. In exams remember sixty five units absorption with sixty five units emission.

Fourteen and thirty four units make forty eight units. In exams remember this sum for atmospheric emission.

Through the atmospheric window some longwave energy escapes directly to space. In exams link seventeen units with direct terrestrial escape.

When the window narrows direct escape of longwave energy decreases. In exams connect atmospheric window with direct outgoing radiation.

Snow and clouds send more solar energy back to space. In exams link high albedo with lower absorption.

A darker surface absorbs more energy due to lower albedo. In exams understand this as albedo feedback.

Clouds affect both incoming and outgoing energy flows. In exams treat clouds as a dual role factor not one sided.

Clouds can lower daytime maximum and keep nighttime minimum higher. In exams remember clouds as reducing daily range.

Positive net radiation increases when incoming and absorbed energy are high. In exams check sunshine and absorption for net gain.

At night there is no solar input and the surface keeps losing longwave energy. Link negative net radiation with night cooling.

Surplus energy is transferred and emitted helping global balance. In exams understand low latitudes as heat source regions.

Atmosphere and oceans carry heat to energy deficit regions. In exams link polar temperature with global heat transport.

Ocean currents reduce energy contrast by taking warm water to cooler regions. Link currents with heat transport in exams.

Atmospheric circulation distributes heat by moving warm and cold air. In exams treat it as reducing energy inequality.

Energy surplus forms when energy keeps accumulating in the Earth system. Link surplus with warming tendency in exams.

A long-term energy deficit means that the Earth system is emitting more energy to space than it is absorbing. Its stored heat then decreases, so the global average temperature can fall. Option B describes the opposite condition, an energy surplus, which can lead to warming. Exam tip: energy deficit indicates cooling, while energy surplus indicates warming.

Greenhouse gases absorb and re radiate longwave energy. In exams remember their effect on terrestrial radiation.

With less water vapour absorption of terrestrial radiation can decrease. Treat water vapour as a night heat trapping gas in exams.

As surface warms terrestrial energy emission increases. Remember the direct relation between temperature and outgoing energy.

The surface receives solar energy and converts it into terrestrial radiation. Remember the sequence from shortwave to longwave in exams.

More absorption with same emission can accumulate energy in the system. In exams check both input and output for balance.