Is the cooling rate of the Earth equal to the heat absorption rate?

Answer 1

This is an excellent and penetrating question because it has so many factors involved in it. Let me start by saying that the earth-atmosphere radiation balance has been in balance. For every 100 units of incoming shortwave radiation some 35 units are scattered and reflected back to space, 15 units are absorbed by the atmosphere, while the remaining 50 units reach the earth and are converted to longwave outgoing radiation. When we look at what leaves the atmosphere besides the 35 reflected units there are also 60 units emitted by the atmosphere and 5 units emitted by the surface and transmitted directly to space, showing that a balance has been achieved giving the earth's surface an overall equilibrium temperature..

Besides this budget at the top of the atmosphere there is also a budget within the atmosphere and one at the earths surface as well. Under a balanced budget, the earth's cooling would equal its receipt of heat energy.

This becomes a little more complicated with increasing greenhouse gases and so-called global warming which will probably increase the earth's cloud cover reflecting more incoming radiation which would tend to cool while retaining more longwave radiation which tends to warm. The result would be a new balance at a higher equilibrium temperature.

I hope this helps if just a little. There are many books and scientific articles on the heat budgets of the earth-atmosphere system that go into more detail than I could in this short summary.

Answer 2

Temperatures have been within a few degrees for millions of years. Admittedly, a degree here or there can make a big difference on something as large and complex as a planet. But if you had a pie that stayed the same temperature for a million years, you could only say that cooling was pretty much equal to absorption.

Link below for a good picture of the various contributors to heat absorption and cooling. You'll note in that picture that heat out sums up to the exact same number as heat in. That's no accident.

Answer 3

No, the cooling rate is higher.
The earth generates heat along with absorbing it.
Otherwise the earth temps would be much higher then it is now.

Answer 4

It is if the temperature is not changing.