Abstract
The equilibrium temperature of the earth is maintained by a balance between the unreflected part of the incoming solar energy, which is absorbed by the earthatmosphere system, and the outgoing longwave radiation escaping from the earth to space. It has long been suspected that suspended atmospheric particles (aerosols) might affect this balance, primarily by affecting the albedo or reflectivity of the earth, thereby altering the amount of solar energy absorbed by the earth. In light of some recent evidence suggesting the existence of an increase in atmospheric particle concentrations (presumably related to man’s activities), the need for development of adequate numerical models to study this problem is apparent. Recent numerical models studying the effect of particles on climate are often based on multiple scattering radiative transfer calculations, and use global averages for particle concentrations and optical properties. By contrasting certain existing models, some major problems in modeling studies that attempt to answer the question of the effects of increased atmospheric particles on climate can be illustrated. It will also be apparent that another uncertainty in the results of such studies arises from a lack of adequate abserved input data on the geographic and vertical distributions of particle concentrations and their optical properties. Furthermore, a model that could realistically simulate the impact of increasing atmospheric particle concentration on climate must eventually include the simultaneous coupled effects of all the important atmospheric processes, such as fluid motions and cloud microphysics, in addition to the radiative transfer effects. Current modeling studies already do predict that increases in particle concentrations could have a significant effect on climate. Now, it remains for us to develop the kinds of refined models needed to verify or deny these predictions.
Keywords
- Outgoing Longwave Radiation
- Atmospheric Particle
- Aerosol Optical Thickness
- Aerosol Layer
- Aerosol Optical Property
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
J. M. Mitchell, Jr., Quaternary Research 2, 436 (1972).
Study of Man’s Impact on Climate (SMIC), Inadvertent Climate Modification (M.I.T. Press, Cambridge Mass. 1971 ).
Study of Critical Environmental Problems (SCEP), Man’s Impact on the Global Environment (M.I.T. Press, Cambridge Mass. 1970 ).
S. H. Schneider and W. W. Kellogg, The Chemical Basis for Climate Change, in: S. I. Rasool: Chemistry of the Lower Atmosphere, chap. 5 ( Plenum Press, New York, New York 1973.
S. F. Singer, Ed., Global Effects of Environmental Pollution ( Reidel Publishing Co., Dordrecht, Holland; Springer-Verlag, New York 1970 ).
S. Manabe and R. T. Wetherald, J. atmos. Sci. 24, 241 (1967).
R. A. Mccormick and J. H. Ludwig, Science 156, 1358 (1967).
S. I. Rasool and S. H. Schneider, Science 173, 138 (1971).
G. Yamamoto and T. Tanaka, J. atmos. Sci. 24, 1405 (1972); also see chap. 8 of the SMIC Report [2]).
R. A. Bryson, Weatherwise 21, 56 (1968).
R. J. Charlson and M. J. Pilat, J. appl. Met. 8, 1001 (1969).
J. M. Mitchell, Jr., J. appl. Met. 10, 703 (1971).
E. Guccione, Is Pollution a Problem? No, Breathe Easier, New York Times, p. 25 (28 August 1971 ).
L. Elterman, Appl. Opt. 3, 745 (1964).
S. I. Rasool, Ed., Chemistry of the Lower Atmosphere ( Plenum Press, New York, New York 1973.
F. W. Went, Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. 46, 212 (1960).
J.H. Ludwig, G. B. Morgan and T. B. Mcmullen, EOS, Trans. Am. geophys. Un. 51, 468 (1970), reprinted as chap. 25 in: W. H. Matthews, W. W. Kellogg and G. D. Robinson, Man’s Impact on the Climate (M.I.T. Press, Cambridge, Mass. 1971 ).
W. W. Kellogg, R. D. Cadle, E. R. Allen, A. L. Lazrus and E. A. Martell, Science 175, 587 (1972).
M. I. Budyko, Tellus 21, 611 (1969).
S. H. Schneider, J. appl. Met. 10, 840 (1971).
J. London and T. Sasamori, Radiative Energy Budget of the Atmosphere, in: W. H. Matthews, W. W. Kellogg and G. D. Robinson, Man’s Impact on the Climate, (M.I.T. Press, Cambridge, Mass. 1971); also Space Res. XI, 639 (1971).
C. Junge, Atmospheric Chemistry and Radioactivity ( Academic Press, New York 1963 ).
D. S. Ensor, W. M. Porch, M. J. Pilat and R. J. Charlson, J. appl. Met. 10, 1303 (1971).
R. Eiden, Appl. Opt. 10, 749 (1971).
K. Fischer, Beitr. Phys. Atmos. 43, Band 244 (1970).
E. P. Shettle and J. A. Weinman, Transfer of Near-Ultraviolet Irradiantes Through Smog Over Los Angeles, in: Preprints of Papers; Conference on Air Pollution Meteorology ( American Meteorological Society, Boston, Mass. 1971 ), p. 121.
R. J. Charlson, H. Harrison and G. Witt, Science 175, 95 (1972).
S. I. Rasool and S. H. Schnieder, Science 175, 96 (1972).
E. Lorenz, The Nature and Theory of the General Circulation of the Atmosphere ( World Meteorological Society, Geneva 1967 ).
S. H. Schneider, A Comparison of Some Recent Numerical Models of the Effects of Aerosols on the Global Climate (unpublished private communication to J. Murray Mitchell, Jr., 1971 ).
M. I. Budyko, Climate and Life (Hydrological Publishing House, Leningrad 1971); also see Ref. [19].
W. D. Sellers, J. appl. Met. 8, 392 (1969).
S. H. Schneider and T. Gal-Chen, Numerical Experiments in Climate Stability, J. Geophys. Res. (to appear 1973 ).
W. L. Donn and M. Ewing, Met. Monogr. 8, 1004 (1968).
S. H. Schneider, J. atmos. Sci. 29, 1413 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1974 Springer Basel AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Schneider, S.H. (1974). Atmospheric Particles and Climate: The Impact of Man’s Activities. In: Willums, JO. (eds) New Concepts in Air Pollution Research. Experientia Supplementum, vol 20. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-5779-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-5779-6_2
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel
Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-5781-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-5779-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive