A Dynamic, Coupled Thermal Reservoir Approach to Atmospheric Energy Transfer Part I: Concepts

Abstract

A dynamic, coupled thermal reservoir description of the Earth's atmospheric energy transfer processes is presented. Solar heat is stored and released by four coupled reservoirs, the land, the oceans and the upper and lower troposphere. In addition to the temperature, there are three other important parameters need to be considered. The first is the thermal gradient, the second is the interaction length and the third is the time delay or phase shift between the incident flux and reservoir thermal response. The Earth's climate is stabilized by the heat stored in these thermal reservoirs, particularly the oceans and the lower troposphere up to 2 km. Almost all of the downward long wave infrared (LWIR) flux reaching the surface originates in the lower troposphere. The dominant energy transfer process within the troposphere is moist convection. At night, the lower troposphere acts as a thermal blanket that slows the surface cooling. The upper troposphere cools continuously by LWIR emission to space. A change in temperature requires a change in the heat stored in the reservoir that has to be calculated using the heat capacity and the time dependent flux balance. The LWIR flux cannot be separated and used to define a change in ‘average surface temperature’ using blackbody theory.