Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Earth and Space Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Earth and Space Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
For a stable climate, the energy budget of the Earth should be balanced. In equation form:
Energy In = Energy Out
In this equation, the terms to the left of the equal sign represent incoming energy, or the arrows from the diagram pointing towards the surface of the Earth. The terms to the right of the equal sign represent the outgoing energy, or the arrows from the diagram pointed outwards from the surface of the Earth. Recall that units for the numbers on the diagram are Watts per square meter.
The above equation represents an equilibrium state of the Earth. Equilibrium is expected for a planet like Earth that has spent a long time in a stable solar system, but sometimes changes occur that can take the system out of balance. When this happens, the two sides of the equation do not equal the same amount, and more (or less) energy is coming in (or going out). Over the last 15 years, measurements show that Earth's energy is not quite balanced.
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What does the phrase “Earth’s energy budget” mean?
If more energy comes into Earth than goes out, what will most likely happen to Earth’s temperature?
Look at the energy diagram showing “Energy In” and “Energy Out.” What do you notice about the arrows representing incoming and outgoing energy?
What might cause Earth’s energy budget to become unbalanced? Give at least one example.
Claim: Earth’s energy budget is not perfectly balanced today.
Write your Evidence and Reasoning to support this claim.