physics

Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity

Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity is a physics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity rather than just read about it. In short: "Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity" is a scientific article published by Syukuro Manabe and Richard Wetherald (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory) in 1967 in Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, dedicated to climate modelling. It is often considered to be the most influential paper in history of climate change science: the climate model that it describes is indee…

Key takeaways

Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity belongs to physics; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

"Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity" is a scientific article published by Syukuro Manabe and Richard Wetherald (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory) in 1967 in Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, dedicated to climate modelling. It is often considered to be the most influential paper in history of climate change science: the climate model that it describes is indeed the first one to address the main physical mechanisms that determine the influence of carbon dioxide (CO2) on Earth surface temperature through the greenhouse effect. Manabe and Wetherald's one-dimension climate radiative-convective model includes an accurate spectroscopy of CO2, ozone and water vapor, atmospheric convection, and water vapor feedback. When a doubled CO2 atmospheric concentration is given as an input to the model, it provides a temperature shift (equilibrium climate sensitivity) of +2.4 °C, which is consistent with modern estimates, such as those published in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. The "Summary and Conclusions" 4. reads exactly as: "Doubling the existing CO2 content of the atmosphere has the effect of increasing the surface temperature by about 2.3C for the atmosphere with the realistic distribution of relative humidity and by about 1.3C for that with the realistic distribution of relative humidity."

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In physics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity

In research: Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity appears in physics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Atmospheric science stubs, Climate change assessment and attribution, Computer science papers, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity in simple terms?

Why does Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity matter?

Because it connects several physics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity.