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1. Why does earth’s emissions spectrum measured at the top of the atmosphere not

ID: 286509 • Letter: 1

Question

1. Why does earth’s emissions spectrum measured at the top of the atmosphere not exactly follow the blackbody spectrum for 288 K?

Question options:

Because the atmospheric greenhouse gases prevent all outgoing radiation at certain wavelengths from escaping

Because the emission temperature of the re-emitting greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere is higher than 288 K

Because of the ozone hole

Because the emission temperature of the re-emitting greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere is lower than 288 K

2.  

Why is the portion of the infrared spectrum between 8 micrometers ("microns") and 13 microns in Earth's atmosphere referred to as the "atmospheric window?"

Question options:

Because gases in the atmosphere actually behave like the windows in a greenhouse, trapping all radiation.

Because at these wavelengths, visible light is reflected back to space, increasing Earth's albedo.

Because wavelengths of light in this region of the spectrum are reflected back to Earth's surface, thereby warming it.

Because the primary greenhouse gases CO2 and H2O are poor absorbers in this region, thereby allowing emission from the surface to escape to space.

A.

Because the atmospheric greenhouse gases prevent all outgoing radiation at certain wavelengths from escaping

B.

Because the emission temperature of the re-emitting greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere is higher than 288 K

C.

Because of the ozone hole

D.

Because the emission temperature of the re-emitting greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere is lower than 288 K

Explanation / Answer

1. why does earth's emissions spectrum measured at the top of the atmosphere not exactly follow the blackbody spectrum for 288K?

because the emission temperature of the re-emitting greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere is lower than 288K

2. Why is the portion of the infrared spectrum between 8 micrometers ("microns") and 13 microns in Earth's atmosphere referred to as the "atmospheric window?"

Because the primary greenhouse gases CO2 and H2O are poor absorbers in this region, thereby allowing emission from the surface to escape to space.