Atmospheric Modeling, Radiative-Convective Equilibrium

Definition

Radiative-convective equilibrium describes the hypothetical mean state of an atmospheric column that is subject to heat transfer by radiation as well as convection. Radiative-convective equilibrium provides a useful approximation for the average vertical temperature structure of planetary atmospheres, which in turn determines a planet’s surface climate as well as its observable state.

Overview

Radiative-convective equilibrium is a generalization of the concept of radiative equilibrium. An atmosphere is in pure radiative equilibrium when each part of the atmosphere radiatively emits as much energy as it absorbs. The theory of radiative equilibrium found early applications in explaining the thermal structure of the Sun’s atmosphere and Earth’s stratosphere.

Radiative equilibrium is a poor approximation for many planetary atmospheres, however, because physical processes other than radiation can also redistribute energy. Prime among them is convection, which arises from an...