When an atmosphere layer is added to the energy balance model, the surface temperature of the earth …

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Question: When an atmosphere layer is added to the energy balance model, the surface temperature of the earth …

Option 1: remains the same
This would imply that adding an atmosphere has no effect on the surface temperature. In the energy balance with a greenhouse layer, atmospheric back-radiation increases the downward flux reaching the surface, so the surface must warm to restore balance. Therefore this option ignores the fundamental greenhouse effect and is incorrect.

Option 2: decreases
A decrease would mean the atmosphere somehow removes heat from the surface or increases the effective cooling. In a simple energy-balance framework, adding an infrared-absorbing atmosphere adds a trap for heat rather than a cooling mechanism. Thus, this choice contradicts the basic mechanism of greenhouse warming and is incorrect.

Option 3: increases
This is the correct interpretation: introducing an atmosphere that absorbs infrared radiation enhances downward longwave radiation to the surface, reducing heat loss to space and raising the surface temperature until a new equilibrium is reached. The greenhouse effect explains why surface temperatures rise when an atmosphere is present, making this the accurate option.

Summary of reasoning across options: The core concept is that an infrared-absorbing atmospheric layer increases back-radiation to the surface, which lowers net outgoing longwave flux and elevates the surface temperature until balance is reestablished. The incorrect options misstate or neglect this mechanism by suggesting no change or cooling, which conflicts with the greenhouse effect principle.

CLMTGR5001_002_2025_3 - Dynamics of Climate Variability and Chan Quiz 2c Week 2 Lecture 3

When an atmosphere layer is added to the energy balance model, the surface temperature of the earth …

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