Hypothetical Air Circulation on Earth: Balancing Radiation and Its Impact

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the hypothetical scenario of air circulation on Earth if incoming and outgoing radiation were balanced at every point. It examines the implications for atmospheric currents, considering factors such as radiation balance, temperature differences, and the influence of geographical features.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if radiation were balanced, air circulation would still occur.
  • Others argue that the current imbalance in radiation at different latitudes is what drives major atmospheric currents, suggesting that without this imbalance, the existing circulation patterns would cease.
  • A participant notes that even with balanced radiation, circulation could persist due to differences in heating rates between land and water, as well as the Coriolis effect.
  • Another participant challenges the idea that radiation balance alone drives circulation, suggesting that temperature inversions from solar radiation absorption at ground level are more critical.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the role of radiation balance in air circulation, with no consensus on whether circulation would persist under the hypothetical condition of balance.

Contextual Notes

The discussion involves assumptions about radiation balance and its effects on atmospheric dynamics, as well as the role of temperature inversions and geographical heating differences, which remain unresolved.

sarahsbs
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hypothetically, if incoming and outgoing radiation balanced at every point on earth, would there still be air circulation? What do you think?
 
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Since the incoming and outgoing radiation balance, and since we have air currents the only possible answer is, yes.
 
Integral said:
Since the incoming and outgoing radiation balance, and since we have air currents the only possible answer is, yes.

But incoming and outgoing radiation isn't in balance at individual points on the earth. The equator receives more than it emits, and the poles lose more than they receive. This is what drives the major atmospheric currents. Were this difference not present, the major 3-cell circulation we have would shut down, but I think circulation in some form would still persist due to differences between continental & oceanic heating rates, as well as smaller scale differences, and coriolis force.
 
matthyaouw said:
(snip) This is what drives the major atmospheric currents. (snip)

Nope. What drives the circulation cells is the temperature inversion created by absorption of solar radiation at ground level rather than in the atmosphere.
 

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