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Radiation
Radiation-0.mp3
Radiation-0.mp4
Radiation-I.mp3
Radiation-I.mp4
Radiation-intro.mp3
[Intro]
(Holler:)
“Solar!”
( Radiation)
Say it again
( Radiation)
[Bridge]
Shine
(Shine on our time)
[Verse 1]
Travelin’ through space
Toward the human race
Where they increase the pace
Of disgrace
[Chorus]
(Radiation)
Red alert
(Radiation)
Gonna get hurt
It’s our time to shine
[Bridge]
(Shine)
Shine on our time
(Shine)
Shine the light on insight
(Shine on our time)
[Verse 2]
Once it gets past
Trapped in our gas
Changing things fast
(Holler solar!)
… but alass
[Chorus]
(Radiation)
Red alert
(Radiation)
Gonna get hurt
It’s our time to shine
(Shine)
[Outro]
Shine on our time
(Shine)
Shine the light on insight
A SCIENCE NOTE: Earth’s climate system and energy transfer
1. Solar Radiation: How Energy Reaches Earth
Incoming Energy
The Sun emits electromagnetic radiation, mostly in visible light, UV, and near-infrared.
This radiation travels through space and reaches Earth — about 1,361 W/m² at the top of the atmosphere (called the solar constant).
2. How That Energy Is Distributed
In the Atmosphere:
About 30% of solar energy is reflected back to space by clouds, aerosols, and Earth’s surface (called albedo).
About 20% is absorbed by the atmosphere, mostly by water vapor, ozone, and dust.
Some is scattered — especially shorter wavelengths (why the sky is blue).
On the Land:
Land surfaces absorb solar radiation and convert it into heat (thermal energy).
That energy is:
Re-radiated as infrared (longwave) radiation
Used in evaporation (latent heat transfer)
Conducted downward into soil or transferred to the air above
In the Oceans:
Water absorbs sunlight, especially in the upper few meters.
Oceans store huge amounts of thermal energy due to water’s high heat capacity.
Ocean currents (like the Gulf Stream) redistribute heat globally.
3. Earth’s Energy Balance
To stay stable, Earth must re-radiate as much energy as it receives. This happens through:
Infrared radiation emitted back into space
Regulated by greenhouse gases like CO₂, CH₄, and water vapor, which trap some outgoing heat — keeping Earth habitable
This is called the greenhouse effect — natural and necessary, but…
4. How Human Activity Is Disrupting the Process
A. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Burning fossil fuels adds extra CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O — increasing the greenhouse gas layer.
This traps more heat and reduces the energy Earth sends back into space.
Result: global warming — land, oceans, and atmosphere all heat up.
B. Land Use Changes
Deforestation reduces the Earth’s albedo (dark forests absorb more than bright grass or snow) and limits carbon capture.
Urbanization adds heat-absorbing surfaces (asphalt, concrete), creating heat islands.
C. Aerosols and Air Pollution
Some aerosols reflect sunlight, causing temporary cooling.
Others, like black carbon (soot), absorb heat and settle on ice, accelerating melting and lowering albedo.
D. Ocean Disruption
Warmer water expands, raises sea levels, and disrupts currents (like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation).
Melting polar ice reduces reflection and increases absorption.
Summary Table
Region
Natural Energy Transfer
Human Impact
Atmosphere
Absorbs, reflects, re-radiates
More GHGs trap more heat (warming)
Land
Absorbs sunlight, re-radiates
Deforestation, urban heat islands
Oceans
Absorbs & stores heat, moves it
Warming, acidification, current disruption
Bonus: Climate Feedback Loops
Melting ice → lower albedo → more absorption → more warming
Warming oceans → less CO₂ absorption → more GHGs in the air
Thawing permafrost → releases methane → even more warming
From the album “Zip-Zap“
The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment
View all episodes
Radiation-0.mp3
Radiation-0.mp4
Radiation-I.mp3
Radiation-I.mp4
Radiation-intro.mp3
[Intro]
(Holler:)
“Solar!”
( Radiation)
Say it again
( Radiation)
[Bridge]
Shine
(Shine on our time)
[Verse 1]
Travelin’ through space
Toward the human race
Where they increase the pace
Of disgrace
[Chorus]
(Radiation)
Red alert
(Radiation)
Gonna get hurt
It’s our time to shine
[Bridge]
(Shine)
Shine on our time
(Shine)
Shine the light on insight
(Shine on our time)
[Verse 2]
Once it gets past
Trapped in our gas
Changing things fast
(Holler solar!)
… but alass
[Chorus]
(Radiation)
Red alert
(Radiation)
Gonna get hurt
It’s our time to shine
(Shine)
[Outro]
Shine on our time
(Shine)
Shine the light on insight
A SCIENCE NOTE: Earth’s climate system and energy transfer
1. Solar Radiation: How Energy Reaches Earth
Incoming Energy
The Sun emits electromagnetic radiation, mostly in visible light, UV, and near-infrared.
This radiation travels through space and reaches Earth — about 1,361 W/m² at the top of the atmosphere (called the solar constant).
2. How That Energy Is Distributed
In the Atmosphere:
About 30% of solar energy is reflected back to space by clouds, aerosols, and Earth’s surface (called albedo).
About 20% is absorbed by the atmosphere, mostly by water vapor, ozone, and dust.
Some is scattered — especially shorter wavelengths (why the sky is blue).
On the Land:
Land surfaces absorb solar radiation and convert it into heat (thermal energy).
That energy is:
Re-radiated as infrared (longwave) radiation
Used in evaporation (latent heat transfer)
Conducted downward into soil or transferred to the air above
In the Oceans:
Water absorbs sunlight, especially in the upper few meters.
Oceans store huge amounts of thermal energy due to water’s high heat capacity.
Ocean currents (like the Gulf Stream) redistribute heat globally.
3. Earth’s Energy Balance
To stay stable, Earth must re-radiate as much energy as it receives. This happens through:
Infrared radiation emitted back into space
Regulated by greenhouse gases like CO₂, CH₄, and water vapor, which trap some outgoing heat — keeping Earth habitable
This is called the greenhouse effect — natural and necessary, but…
4. How Human Activity Is Disrupting the Process
A. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Burning fossil fuels adds extra CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O — increasing the greenhouse gas layer.
This traps more heat and reduces the energy Earth sends back into space.
Result: global warming — land, oceans, and atmosphere all heat up.
B. Land Use Changes
Deforestation reduces the Earth’s albedo (dark forests absorb more than bright grass or snow) and limits carbon capture.
Urbanization adds heat-absorbing surfaces (asphalt, concrete), creating heat islands.
C. Aerosols and Air Pollution
Some aerosols reflect sunlight, causing temporary cooling.
Others, like black carbon (soot), absorb heat and settle on ice, accelerating melting and lowering albedo.
D. Ocean Disruption
Warmer water expands, raises sea levels, and disrupts currents (like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation).
Melting polar ice reduces reflection and increases absorption.
Summary Table
Region
Natural Energy Transfer
Human Impact
Atmosphere
Absorbs, reflects, re-radiates
More GHGs trap more heat (warming)
Land
Absorbs sunlight, re-radiates
Deforestation, urban heat islands
Oceans
Absorbs & stores heat, moves it
Warming, acidification, current disruption
Bonus: Climate Feedback Loops
Melting ice → lower albedo → more absorption → more warming
Warming oceans → less CO₂ absorption → more GHGs in the air
Thawing permafrost → releases methane → even more warming
From the album “Zip-Zap“
The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment