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)

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 (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)

(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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(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

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 that removes CO2) of this gas.

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

Sink: ..................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 13 marks)

2. This question is about solar radiation.

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

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(2)

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

Earth-Sun distance = 1.5 × 1011 m

radius of Earth = 6.4 × 106 m
radius of Sun = 7.0 × 108 m
surface temperature of Sun = 5800 K

(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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 (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)

(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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 (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)

[15]

3. This question is about fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect.

(a) State two reasons why most of the world’s energy consumption is provided by fossil
fuels.

1. ..................................................................................................................................

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2. ..................................................................................................................................

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(2)

(b) A power station has an output power of 500 MW and an overall efficiency of 27 %.
It uses natural gas as a fuel that has an energy density of 56 MJ kg–1.

(i) Define energy density.

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(1)

(ii) Determine the rate of consumption of natural gas in the power station.

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(3)

(c) Outline why the enhanced greenhouse effect may result in an increase in the temperature
of the Earth’s surface.

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(3)

(d) (i) The solar intensity at the position of the Earth is 1380 W m–2. The average albedo
of Earth is 0.300. State why an average value of albedo is quoted.

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(1)

(ii) Show that the average reflected intensity from the Earth is about 100 W m–2.

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 (e) One of the expected results of global warming is an increased sea level. The increase in
volume ΔV for a temperature increase ΔT is given by ΔV = γVΔT. Show, using the
following data, that the resulting rise in sea level is about 0.5 m.

Temperature increase = 2.0 °C

Surface area of oceans on Earth = 3.6 × 108 km2
Average ocean depth = 3.0 km
γ = 8.8 × 10–5 K–1

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(2)
(Total 16 marks)

4. This question is about greenhouse effect

(a) The graph shows part of the absorption spectrum of nitrogen oxide (N2O) in which the
intensity of absorbed radiation A is plotted against frequency f.

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 (i) State the region of the electromagnetic spectrum to which the resonant frequency
of nitrogen oxide belongs.

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(1)

(ii) Using your answer to (a)(i), explain why nitrogen oxide is classified as a
greenhouse gas.

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(2)

(b) Define emissivity and albedo.

Emissivity: ...................................................................................................................

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Albedo: ........................................................................................................................

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(3)

(c) The diagram shows a simple energy balance climate model in which the atmosphere and
the surface of Earth are two bodies each at constant temperature. The surface of the Earth
receives both solar radiation and radiation emitted from the atmosphere. Assume that the
Earth’s surface behaves as a black body.

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The following data are available for this model.

average temperature of the atmosphere of Earth = 242 K

emissivity, e of the atmosphere of Earth = 0.720
average albedo, α of the atmosphere of Earth = 0.280
solar intensity at top of atmosphere = 344 W m–2
average temperature of the surface of Earth = 288 K

Use the data to show that the

(i) power radiated per unit area of the atmosphere is 140 W m–2.

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 (ii) solar power absorbed per unit area at the surface of the Earth is 248 W m–2.

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(1)

(d) It is hypothesized that, if the production of greenhouse gases were to stay at its present
level then the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere would eventually rise by 6.0 K.

Calculate the power per unit area that would then be

(i) radiated by the atmosphere.

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(ii) absorbed by the Earth’s surface.

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(e) Estimate, using your answer to (d)(ii), the increase in temperature of Earth’s surface.

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(3)
(Total 14 marks)

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