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Chapter 13: Problem 88

Aerosols are important components of the atmosphere. Does the presence of aerosols in the atmosphere increase or decrease the amount of sunlight that arrives at the Earth's surface, compared to an "aerosol-free" atmosphere? Explain your reasoning.

Short Answer

Expert verified
In summary, the presence of aerosols in the atmosphere can both increase or decrease the amount of sunlight that arrives at the Earth's surface, depending on the properties of the aerosol particles. Scattering aerosols generally decrease sunlight reaching the surface, while absorbing aerosols can increase local temperature. However, aerosols tend to have a net cooling effect on the Earth's climate due to the dominance of scattering aerosols, which implies that the presence of aerosols generally leads to a decrease in the sunlight reaching the Earth's surface compared to an aerosol-free atmosphere.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Aerosols

Aerosols are tiny particles or liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere. They originate from both natural sources (e.g., sea spray, volcanic emissions, and dust storms) and human activities (e.g., pollution from vehicles, industrial processes, and burning of fossil fuels). Aerosols impact the Earth's climate by scattering and absorbing sunlight. This interaction with sunlight is known as aerosol radiative forcing.
02

Interaction of Aerosols with Sunlight

Aerosols can either scatter sunlight back into space or absorb sunlight and convert it into heat. The type of interaction depends on the properties of the aerosol particles, such as their size, shape, and composition. Scattering aerosols (e.g., sulfate particles) reflect sunlight back into space, which can result in a cooling effect on the Earth's surface. On the other hand, absorbing aerosols (e.g., black carbon) can cause a warming effect by absorbing sunlight and converting it into heat, which could lead to a local increase in temperature.
03

Aerosol-free Atmosphere vs. Aerosol-containing Atmosphere

In an aerosol-free atmosphere, there would be no aerosol particles to scatter or absorb sunlight. Thus, more sunlight would directly reach the Earth's surface without any interference. In an atmosphere containing aerosols, the interaction between aerosols and sunlight can lead to both cooling and warming effects.
04

Conclusion

In conclusion, the presence of aerosols in the atmosphere can both increase or decrease the amount of sunlight that arrives at the Earth's surface, depending on the specific properties of the aerosol particles. Generally, scattering aerosols will decrease the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth's surface, while absorbing aerosols can increase the local temperature. However, overall, aerosols tend to have a net cooling effect on the Earth's climate due to the dominance of scattering aerosols, which implies that the presence of aerosols in the atmosphere can lead to a decrease in the amount of sunlight that arrives at the Earth's surface when compared to an aerosol-free atmosphere.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Benzene \(\left(\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{6}\right)\) boils at $80.1^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\( and has a density of \)0.876 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mL} .$ (a) When \(0.100 \mathrm{~mol}\) of a nondissociating solute is dissolved in $500 \mathrm{~mL}\( of \)\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{6}$, the solution boils at \(79.52^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). What is the molal boiling-point-elevation constant for \(\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{6} ?\) (b) When \(10.0 \mathrm{~g}\) of a nondissociating unknown is dissolved in \(500 \mathrm{~mL}\) of $\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{6}\(, the solution boils at \)79.23^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$. What is the molar mass of the unknown?

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