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a = trailing subscript indicating a past time or atmospheric, depending on context
b = trailing subscript indicating a present time
c = trailing subscript indicating a future time
d = leading character indicating a differential change
g = trailing subscript indicating dry ground
Ac = cross-sectional area of spherical planet Earth = 127.39 X 10^12 m^2
An = area of carbon dioxide absorption band on the thermal emission graph
Anm = the value of An corresponding to a very large carbon dioxide concentration
Ao = total surface area of Earth's oceans = 361 X 10^12 m^2
Ap = surface area of polar ocean ~ 14.506 X 10^12 m^2
As = surface area of spherical planet Earth = 509.55 X 10^12 m^2
C = speed of light = 2.997925 X 10^8 m / s
CaCO3 = calcium carbonate or limestone
Carbon Dioxide Infrared Absorption Band = the wavelength range 13 um to 18 um where carbon dioxide strongly absorbs electromagnetic radiation
Cb = Stefan-Boltzmann constant = 5.6697 X 10^-8 W m^-2 K^-4
CH4 = methane
Climate Change = long term change in annual average temperature
Co(W) = infrared absorption as a function of radiation frequency W
Coa(W) = infrared absorption by H2O as a function of radiation frequency W
Cob(W) = infrared absorption by CO2 as a function of radiation frequency W
Coc(W) = infrared absorption by O3 as a function of radiation frequency W
Cod(W) = infrared absorption by CH4 as a function of radiation frequency W
Combustion = burning
CO2 = carbon dioxide
Cp = heat capacity of water = 1.0 cal / gm-deg K
D = atmospheric concentration of CO2 or H2O
Degrees C = temperature on Celsius scale
Degrees K = absolute temperature scale (273.15 degrees K = 0 degrees C)
Do = average depth of oceans = 3790 m
Emissivity = a proportionality factor indicating the tendency of a surface to emit thermal radiation. For a mirror like shiny surface emissivity = 0. For an ideal black surface emissivity = 1. The value of the emissivity at any particular wavenumber is Ftw. The weighted average value of emissivity is Ft.
Environment Canada = a Canadian governmental organization that measures and records temperatures and other weather data at various locations in Canada
Equinox = a time when the rotation axis of the earth is perpendicular to a line between the Earth and the Sun. An equinox occurs about March 21 and about September 21.
Ev = ocean evaporation rate in m^3 / year
F = radiation frequency, where: (Lamda) X F = C;
or
F = mass flow of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from combustion of fossil fuels, depending on the context.
Fa = mass flow of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from combustion of fossil fuels before the industrial revolution.
Fb = mass flow of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from combustion of fossil fuels at a present time.
Fc = mass flow of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from combustion of fossil fuels at a future time.
Fh = mass flow of CO2 to the atmosphere due to oxidation of atmospheric hydrocarbons such as CH4.
Fm = fraction of net heat captured by the oceans that causes melting of polar ice
Fossil Carbon = carbon contained in coal, oil, natural gas and peat
Fossil Carbon Emissions Tax = a tax intended to discourage combustion of fossil fuels
Fossil Fuels = coal, oil, natural gas and peat
Fp = fraction of incident solar power absorbed by the planet Earth that evaporates water
Fr = planetary albedo = fraction of incident solar radiation reflected by the Earth
Fs = fraction of net ocean water evaporation that converts dissolved bicarbonate into carbonate, releasing CO2 gas
Ft = emissivity = Integral from Z = 0 to Z = infinity of:
{Ftw(Z) [15 / Pi^4] Z^3 dZ / [exp(Z) - 1]}
Ftw = wavenumber dependent emissivity
Fv = net mass flow of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere due to volcanic action
G = acceleration of gravity at the Earth's surface = 9.80665 m / s^2
Global Warming = the increase in inland atmospheric temperature caused by the excess carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere at locations far from any local carbon dioxide source
Greenhouse Effect = the tendency of the atmosphere to make the temperature at the Earth's surface warmer than it would be if there was no atmosphere
Greenhouse Gases = polarized gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone that contribute to the Greenhouse Effect
h = Planck's constant = 6.6256 X 10^-34 joule-sec
H2O = water
Ha = Net heat absorbed but not re-radiated per unit area per unit time
Hf = Heat of fusion of water = 79.72 cal / gm
Ho = Solar Irradiance = 1367 W / m^2
Hr = average stored heat release per unit area of Earth's surface
Ht = total net heat flux captured by the oceans
Hv = Heat of vaporization of water = 1200 BTU / lb @ 60 degrees F = 2270 kJ / kg
H2O = water
H2CO3 = carbonic acid
Infrared = electromagnetic radiation with a longer wavelength than visible light
IPSP = Integrated Power System Plan
IRIS = InfraRed Interferometer Spectrometer (A satelite mounted instrument that measures the infrared radiation intensity as a function of wavenumber emitted by a spot on the Earth)
K = Boltzmann constant = 1.38054 X 10^-23 joule-K^-1; or
K = degrees Kelvin absolute temperature, depending on the context
Kc = mass of releaseable carbon dioxide stored in calcium bicarbonate solution per m^3 of ocean water = .055 kg CO2 / m^3
Kd = constant relating the rate of dissolving of atmospheric carbon dioxide in exposed water to the mass of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
L = angle of latitude
Lamda = a Greek letter commonly used as a symbol for the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, (Lamda) = C / F
Local Albedo = the fraction of incident solar radiation reflected by a local area of the Earth's surface that may be only a few km wide.
Local Warming = the greenhouse warming caused by the local atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration
M = mass of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Mars Global Surveyor = a spacecraft that on November 23, 1996, while on its way from Earth to Mars, recorded an infrared spectrum of the Earth. This spectrum simplifies analysis of Green House Gas warming on Earth.
Micro Fusion = an electro-nuclear method of producing heat
Mo = total mass of oceans
Mortality = human death rate
Na = number of CO2 molecules in atmosphere prior to combustion of fossil fuels
Nb = current number of CO2 molecules in atmosphere
NASA = National Aeronautics And Space Administration
NIST = US National Institute of Science and Technology
N2O = nitrous oxide
Ontario Energy Board (OEB) = an Ontario government agency that approves electricity rates, transmission line projects and the Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP) in the Province of Ontario
Ontario Power Authority (OPA) = an Ontario government agency that conducts electricity system planning and that purchases electricity for supply to the people of Ontario
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) = an Ontario government owned company that generates electricity
Ozone Depleting Substances = substances that when mixed with the atmosphere cause ozone to revert into oxygen
O3 = ozone
P = radiated power per unit area
Pa = partial pressure of H2O
Pb = partial pressure of CO2
Pc = partial pressure of O3
Pd = partial pressure of CH4
Pi = ratio of circumference of a circle to its diameter = 3.14159
Po = radiated power per unit area by an ideal black surface where:
Ftw(W) = 1 for all values of W.
Planetary Albedo = fraction of incident solar radiation reflected from the exposed face of the earth = .297. The Planetary Albedo is also known as the Bond Albedo.
ppmv = parts per million by volume. For example, an atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration of 380 ppmv means that 380 out of every 1,000,000 molecules of gas in the atmosphere are carbon dioxide molecules.
R = radius of planet Earth
Rayleigh Scattering a wavelength dependent mechanism by which light scatters off the Earth's atmosphere.
Ra = historic rate of CO2 molecules absorbed by ocean
Rb = current rate of CO2 molecules absorbed by ocean
Rc = rate of CO2 molecular injection into atmosphere due to combustion of fossil fuels
Rd = rate of CO2 molecular injection into atmosphere due to biomatter decay
Re = rate of CO2 molecular emission from ocean due to solar induced evaporation
Rf = world wide average annual rainfall in m / year
Ro = density of water ~ 1 gm / cm^3 = 1000 kg / m^3
Rp = rate of CO2 molecular absorption by plants
Rt = rate of CO2 molecules entering atmosphere due to Charles Law
Solar Irradiance = intensity of solar radiation measured by a spacecraft orbiting the earth outside the Earth's atmosphere = 1367 W / m^2
Solar Radiation = electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun
T = absolute temperature or time, depending on the context
Ta = actual emission temperature as indicated by IR emission in frequency windows where there is no high atmosphere IR absorption. Ta indicates temperature at top of clouds. In general:
Ta > Te.
Taa = value of Ta at time a
Taag = dry ground temperature corresponding to Taa
Tag = dry ground temperature corresponding to Ta
Tab = value of Ta at time b
Tabg = dry ground temperature corresponding to Tab
Te = thermal emission temperature of an ideal black body
Tea = value of Te averaged over the Earth's surface
TES = Thermal Emission Spectrometer (a spacecraft mounted instrument that measures the infrared radiation intensity as a function of wavenumber emitted by the Earth or a planet)
Th = Apparent half life of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Thermal Emission = infrared electromagnetic radiation emitted by a warm body. Thermal Emission is also known as Thermal Radiation.
Thermal Radiation = infrared electromagnetic radiation emitted by a warm body. Thermal Radiation is also known as Thermal Emission.
To = exponential decay time constant for excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, where:
To = 1 / Kd
Tv = time for the bulk ocean temperature to respond to a change in the heat absorption rate
V = effective volume of atmosphere
W = angular frequency = 2 Pi F
Wavenumber = F / C, used in place of frequency F at infrared and optical wavelengths
Z = [(h F) / (K T)], a collected term used too simplify thermal radiation equations
This web page last updated August 18, 2014
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