Radiation

Radiation-0.mp3
Radiation-0.mp4
Radiation-I.mp3
Radiation-I.mp4
Radiation-intro.mp3

[Intro]
(Holler:)
“Solar!”
(☢️ Radiation)
Say it again
(☢️ Radiation)

[Bridge]
Shine
(Shine on our time)

[Verse 1]
Travelin’ through space
Toward the human race
Where they increase the pace
Of disgrace

[Chorus]
(Radiation)
Red alert
(Radiation)
Gonna get hurt

It’s our time to shine
[Bridge]
(Shine)
Shine on our time
(Shine)
Shine the light on insight

(Shine on our time)

[Verse 2]
Once it gets past
Trapped in our gas
Changing things fast
(Holler solar!)
… but alass

[Chorus]
(Radiation)
Red alert
(Radiation)
Gonna get hurt

It’s our time to shine
(Shine)

[Outro]
Shine on our time
(Shine)
Shine the light on insight

A SCIENCE NOTE: Earth’s climate system and energy transfer

1. Solar Radiation: How Energy Reaches Earth

Incoming Energy

• The Sun emits electromagnetic radiation, mostly in visible light, UV, and near-infrared.

• This radiation travels through space and reaches Earth — about 1,361 W/m² at the top of the atmosphere (called the solar constant).

 2. How That Energy Is Distributed

In the Atmosphere:

• About 30% of solar energy is reflected back to space by clouds, aerosols, and Earth’s surface (called albedo).

• About 20% is absorbed by the atmosphere, mostly by water vapor, ozone, and dust.

• Some is scattered — especially shorter wavelengths (why the sky is blue).

On the Land:

• Land surfaces absorb solar radiation and convert it into heat (thermal energy).

• That energy is:

  • Re-radiated as infrared (longwave) radiation

  • Used in evaporation (latent heat transfer)

  • Conducted downward into soil or transferred to the air above

In the Oceans:

• Water absorbs sunlight, especially in the upper few meters.

• Oceans store huge amounts of thermal energy due to water’s high heat capacity.

• Ocean currents (like the Gulf Stream) redistribute heat globally.

 3. Earth’s Energy Balance

To stay stable, Earth must re-radiate as much energy as it receives. This happens through:

• Infrared radiation emitted back into space

• Regulated by greenhouse gases like CO₂, CH₄, and water vapor, which trap some outgoing heat — keeping Earth habitable

This is called the greenhouse effect — natural and necessary, but…

4. How Human Activity Is Disrupting the Process

A. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

• Burning fossil fuels adds extra CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O — increasing the greenhouse gas layer.

• This traps more heat and reduces the energy Earth sends back into space.

• Result: global warming — land, oceans, and atmosphere all heat up.

B. Land Use Changes

• Deforestation reduces the Earth’s albedo (dark forests absorb more than bright grass or snow) and limits carbon capture.

• Urbanization adds heat-absorbing surfaces (asphalt, concrete), creating heat islands.

C. Aerosols and Air Pollution

• Some aerosols reflect sunlight, causing temporary cooling.

• Others, like black carbon (soot), absorb heat and settle on ice, accelerating melting and lowering albedo.

D. Ocean Disruption

• Warmer water expands, raises sea levels, and disrupts currents (like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation).

• Melting polar ice reduces reflection and increases absorption.

Summary Table

 Bonus: Climate Feedback Loops

• Melting ice → lower albedo → more absorption → more warming

• Warming oceans → less CO₂ absorption → more GHGs in the air

• Thawing permafrost → releases methane → even more warming

From the album “Zip-Zap“

The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment