VCE Physics/Unit 1/AoS 1/Climate

/Applying thermal physics to climate science Introduction Text to come. Relevant Dot Points from the Study Design identify regions of the electromagnetic spectrum as radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma waves describe electromagnetic radiation emitted from the Sun as mainly ultraviolet, visible and infrared calculate the peak wavelength of the re-radiated electromagnetic radiation from Earth using Wien’s Law: λ_maxT = constant compare the total energy across the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by objects at different temperatures such as the Sun describe power radiated by a body as being dependent on the temperature of the body according to the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, P∝T^4 explain the roles of conduction, convection and radiation in moving heat around in Earth’s mantle (tectonic movement) and atmosphere (weather) model the greenhouse effect as the flow and retention of thermal energy from the Sun, Earth’s surface and Earth’s atmosphere explain how greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (including methane, water and carbon dioxide) absorb and re-emit infrared radiation analyse changes in the thermal energy of the surface of Earth and of Earth’s atmosphere analyse the evidence for the influence of human activity in creating an enhanced greenhouse effect, including affecting surface materials and the balance of gases in the atmosphere.