The Sun and Its Effects

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The Sun and Its Effects
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The Sun

• The sun is layered similar to the Earth. In the
  center is the core, where nuclear fusion occurs.
• Nuclear fusion of the sun is when atoms of
  hydrogen combine to form a new nuclei of helium.

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• Energy leaves the core through convection
  currents and reaches the photosphere.
• Photosphere - The visible surface of the Sun,
  lying just above the uppermost layer of the Suns
  interior, and just below the chromosphere.

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• Chromosphere - a layer in the Suns atmosphere
  where much of the ultraviolet radiation is
  produced. The transition between the outermost
  layer of the Suns layer of the Suns atmosphere,
  or corona.
• Corona - The outermost layer of the Suns
  atmosphere. Contains rarified gases that reach
  millions of degrees.

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The Sun as an Energy Source

• 50 of the incoming energy from the sun is
  absorbed into the Earths surface. The other
  half is
• Absorbed by the atmosphere
• Reflected or scattered back into space by the
  Earth or clouds.

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Greenhouse Gas Overview

• Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often
  called greenhouse gases.
• Some greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide
  occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere
  through natural processes and human activities.
  Other greenhouse gases (e.g., fluorinated gases)
  are created and emitted solely through human
  activities.

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• The principal greenhouse gases that enter the
  atmosphere because of human activities are
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Carbon dioxide enters the
  atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels
  (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, trees
  and wood products, and also as a result of other
  chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement).
  Carbon dioxide is also removed from the
  atmosphere (or sequestered) when it is absorbed
  by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle.

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• Methane (CH4) Methane is emitted during the
  production and transport of coal, natural gas,
  and oil. Methane emissions also result from
  livestock and other agricultural practices and by
  the decay of organic waste in municipal solid
  waste landfills.

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• Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Nitrous oxide is emitted
  during agricultural and industrial activities, as
  well as during combustion of fossil fuels and
  solid waste.

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• Fluorinated Gases Hydrofluorocarbons,
  perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are
  synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are
  emitted from a variety of industrial processes.
  Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as
  substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (i.e.,
  CFCs, HCFCs, and halons). These gases are
  typically emitted in smaller quantities, but
  because they are potent greenhouse gases, they
  are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming
  Potential gases (High GWP gases).

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Why is the Sky Blue?

• Scattering is the effect of molecules of dust in
  the atmosphere changing the dir4ection of solar
  radiation.
• The atmosphere scatters short visible layers of
  light which is in the blue range. When it is
  scattered longer it will give the red or orange
  colors.

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The Earth and the Sun are Heating you

• The combination of the Suns solar radiation and
  the Earth absorbing it, are what heats you. The
  Earths surface warms up and bounces back into
  the atmosphere. Thus, the atmosphere around the
  Earths surface will get warm.

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The Reflection of the Sun

• Albedo - The reflective property of a
  non-luminous object. A perfect mirror would have
  an albedo of 100 while a black hole would have
  an albedo of 0.
• Different surfaces of the earth have
  reflectivity. Dark surfaces do not reflect much
  sun light, while light tends to reflect off of
  lighter colors.

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The Earths Energy budget

• All the systems of the earth depend on energy
  from the sun.

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Harmful Radiation and You

• The sun produces harmful radioactive rays that
  reach Earth.
• Ultraviolet (UV) rays, X rays, and gamma rays are
  produced from the Sun.
• UV rays can get trapped in the Earths ozone
  layer and can harm the all the spheres

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• Ozone

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Surface Features of the Sun

• Sunspots
• Prominences
• Solar Flares
• Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) - Solar winds.

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Solar Weather

• The ejection of solar winds from the Sun cause
  change in the space weather.
• Solar Winds contain charged particles that can
  disrupt radio waves, and electromagnetic waves
  and can cause interference.
• Solar Wind can be beautiful. They cause the
  aurora borealis.

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