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From: jwm@stdc.jhuapl.edu (James W. Meritt)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc,sci.misc
Subject: Re: greenhouse effect / solar power satellites
Message-ID: <172@aplcomm.UUCP>
Date: 4 Apr 88 22:00:22 GMT
References: <763@spdcc.COM> <5578@well.UUCP> <766@spdcc.COM> <767@spdcc.COM>
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Reply-To: jwm@stdc.jhuapl.edu.UUCP (James W. Meritt)
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Organization: The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
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In article <767@spdcc.COM> eli@spdcc.COM (Steve Elias) writes:
:one of the more atmospheric types out there (jwm?) mentioned that the
:earth system responds on the order of days or months to small additions
:of energy.  a question for you, jwm or jfc:
 
:how does the earth's atmosphere respond to long term flux increases of a
:few percent?  i think that the reaction would not be simple reradiation
:of the energy into space.  i don't think i'm far from Drake's thinking
:on this issue.  would anybody like to see his calculations and thoughts
:when i get his notes?    


I had planned to get out of this:  Those capable of reason had, and those
incapable do not rate the trouble, but since I was asked.....

I don't know any of the time constants or phase delays for the current system.
What I do remember (and think may be relevant) is something I vaguely remember
called the "Gia hypotheses" (ok, my spelling stinks.....)  This advanced the
concept that the easth/seas/atmosphere system was a self-correcting "living"
organism.  As a support for this, it is estimated that the solar flux has
varied, and in fact was 120% of current, while there has been life on earth.
This amount of heat should have boiled a lot of water, but obviously didn't:
Life (as we know it, on earth, our chemistries,.......) NEEDS liquid water!
That, and the isotope balances in the shells, indicates that while the flux
varied greatly, the temperature didn't.  Anybody got better data?

Now as to "small additional amounts of energy": beats me, but I know it gets
cold at night and warms up in the morning!


Disclaimer: Individuals have opinions, organizations have policy.
            Therefore, these opinions are mine and not any organizations!
Q.E.D.
jwm@aplvax.jhuapl.edu 128.244.65.5