Year 12 B.

2: Greenhouse Effect Date:

1. This question is about the energy balance of the Earth.

(a) The intensity of the Sun’s radiation at the position of the Earth is approximately
1400 W m–2.

Suggest why the average power received per unit area of the Earth is 350 W m–2.

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(2)

(b) The diagram shows a simplified model of the energy balance of the Earth’s surface.
The diagram shows radiation entering or leaving the Earth’s surface only.

The average equilibrium temperature of the Earth’s surface is TE and that of the
atmosphere is TA = 242 K.

(i) Using the data from the diagram, state the emissivity of the atmosphere.

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(1)

(ii) Show that the intensity of the radiation radiated by the atmosphere towards the
Earth’s surface is 136 W m–2.

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(1)

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Year 12 B.2: Greenhouse Effect Date:

(iii) By reference to the energy balance of the Earth’s surface, calculate TE.

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(2)

(c) (i) Outline a mechanism by which part of the radiation radiated by the Earth’s surface
is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

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(3)

(ii) Suggest why the incoming solar radiation is not affected by the mechanism you
outlined in (c)(i).

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(iii) Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas. State one source and one sink (object
that removes CO2) of this gas.

Source: ..............................................................................................................

Sink: ..................................................................................................................
(2)

2. This question is about solar radiation.

(a) State the Stefan–Boltzmann law for a black body.

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(2)

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Year 12 B.2: Greenhouse Effect Date:

(b) The following data relate to the Earth and the Sun.

Earth-Sun distance = 1.5 × 1011 m

(i) Use data from the table to show that the power radiated by the Sun is about
4 × 1026 W.

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(1)

(ii) Calculate the solar power incident per unit area at a distance from the Sun equal to
the Earth’s distance from the Sun.

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(2)

(iii) The average power absorbed per unit area at the Earth’s surface is 240 W m–2.
State two reasons why the value calculated in (b)(ii) differs from this value.

1: .......................................................................................................................

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2: .......................................................................................................................

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(2)

(iv) Show that the value for power absorbed per unit area of 240 W m–2 is consistent
with an average equilibrium temperature for Earth of about 255 K.

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(2)

3
Year 12 B.2: Greenhouse Effect Date:

(c) Explain, by reference to the greenhouse effect, why the average temperature of the
surface of the Earth is greater than 255 K.

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(3)

(d) Suggest why the burning of fossil fuels may lead to an increase in the temperature of the
surface of the Earth.

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(3)
(Total 15 marks)