The purpose for this paper
This paper is not meant to be a peer-reviewed work; but it is meant to give a foundation for a more serious study of the subject matter presented here which is of determining the basis of developing a global temperature. The key is the base which what is the base temperature of the planet and, of course, it is the solar radiation received from the sun. Therefore, the energy absorbed by the planet must equal the energy emitted by the planet and we can calculate this using the Stefan-Boltzmann Law the the result is called the blackbody temperature. The energy flux emitted by a blackbody is related to the fourth power of the body’s absolute temperature. In the case of the earth use means and averages that temperature is -18.8 degrees Celsius but wait the current temperature around 14.6 degrees Celsius today that is a difference of 33.4 degrees Celsius; where did that come from. The answer is that is the greenhouse effect. and at least 85% of that is form the water in the atmosphere making water the primary green house gas by far.
This paper has been written to show the read the basics of the science of determining the key variables that make up earth the temperature. What you will find is that the planet has been very stable over time and that its currently much cooler than it ever has been. The following chart is developed from ice core and is onlyu one of many that show the same thing.
There are three areas of interest.
1) The amount of thermal energy that reaches the planet from the sun.
2) The amount of thermal energy that is initially absorbed by the planet.
3) The process on the planet that ‘temporarily’ holds thermal energy on the planet.
In this paper I will give a frame work for determining all three aspects.
Part One, the blackbody temperature of the planet
Part Two, the planetary greenhouse effect
Part Three, the probable range of temperatures on the planet
Appendix
NASA Table Land Ocean Temperature Index (LOTI) April 2008
NASA Table Land Ocean Temperature Index (LOTI) current to the date of this paper
The link below will allow you to download the paper, if you want, and at no cost.