Planetary Energy Balance
Planetary Energy Balance - Related Videos
01:19
Energy Balance
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2024
The human body gets energy from the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Energy is released when the chemical bonds in the organic compounds present in the food are broken down. The energy content of food is measured in kilocalories (kcal), defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. This value is determined by measuring the temperature change of the water surrounding a calorimeter after the complete...
06:04
Simulation of the Planetary Interior Differentiation Processes in the Laboratory
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Cited by 1 •
2013
The high-pressure and high-temperature experiments described here mimic planet interior differentiation processes. The processes are visualized and better understood by high-resolution 3D imaging and quantitative chemical analysis.
07:03
Assessment of Motor Balance and Coordination in Mice using the Balance Beam
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Cited by 395 •
2011
Deficits in fine motor coordination can be assessed with the balance beam test. Performance on the beam is quantified by the speed at which the beam is traversed and the number of times the mouse slips on the beam.
01:18
Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion
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2023
In the early 17th century, German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler postulated three laws for the motion of planets in the solar system. In 1909, he formulated his first two laws based on the observations of his forebears, Nikolaus Copernicus and Tycho Brahe. However, in 1918, he published his third law of planetary motion, which gives a precise mathematical relationship between a planet's average distance from the Sun and the amount of time it takes to revolve around the Sun. It...
02:58
Balancing Redox Equations
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2020
Electrochemistry is the science involved in the interconversion of electrical and chemical reactions. Such reactions are called reduction-oxidation, or redox reactions. These important reactions are defined by changes in oxidation states for one or more reactant elements and include a subset of reactions involving the transfer of electrons between reactant species. Electrochemistry as a field has evolved to yield sufficient insights on the fundamental principles of redox chemistry and multiple...
FAQs
Albedo determines how much incoming solar radiation a planet reflects rather than absorbs. Clouds, ice, and land contribute to this reflectivity, so differences among these surfaces affect the energy available for warming the surface and atmosphere. Because absorbed energy is later released as infrared radiation, albedo helps shape temperature conditions that influence climate and biological systems.
Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit some of the infrared radiation released after the surface and atmosphere absorb solar energy. This interaction affects how efficiently heat leaves the planet for space. Consequently, changes in greenhouse-gas influence can modify temperature conditions, with potential effects on water availability, species distributions, and ecosystem function.
Reflected sunlight and outgoing infrared radiation represent different pathways in the energy budget. Reflection returns incoming stellar energy to space, while infrared emission releases energy after absorption by the surface and atmosphere. Distinguishing these pathways allows researchers to examine how albedo, atmospheric absorption, and surface conditions each contribute to planetary temperature and climate.
An assessment compares incoming solar radiation with the portions absorbed by the surface and atmosphere, reflected by clouds, ice, and land, and eventually emitted as infrared radiation. Researchers also consider greenhouse-gas absorption and re-emission of heat. Examining these components together helps identify how energy moves through the planet and affects environmental conditions.
Energy balance influences temperature and water availability, two conditions that shape where organisms can survive and how ecosystems function. These environmental effects also influence primary productivity, the production of organic matter by biological systems. As the energy budget shifts, researchers can examine potential changes in productivity patterns, species distributions, and broader ecosystem responses.
Researchers use the energy budget to understand climate change, predict environmental conditions, and evaluate whether planetary conditions can support biological systems. Tracking absorption, reflection, infrared emission, and greenhouse-gas effects connects physical energy flows with biological outcomes. This approach helps relate changes in climate conditions to water availability, productivity, species ranges, and ecosystem function.