Planet Earth emits exactly the same amount of energy back to outer space that it receives from the Sun,?

Question

How can the surface of the Earth warm up without upsetting this energy balance?

Answer 1

no, part of the heat stays inside the atmosphere. it is then used to heat up the surface. the surface is also equipped with a layer of hot air that get cooler further up.

Answer 2

This is true when the system is in equilibrium. It is based on the first law of thermodynamics. In fact, it is the basis of all scientific calculations of planetary temperatures. In these calculations one assumes that the incoming solar flux is exactly balanced by the outgoing thermal radiation as defined by the Stefan-Boltzmann law.

As for how the surface of the earth warms up in such an equilibrium condition, this is usually answered through the "greenhouse effect" calculation. In this theory, the earth's atmosphere is mathematically treated akin to the panes of glass in a greenhouse. The energy flux at each interface is balanced and the calculation results in a heating of the surface -- something like the warming of a greenhouse with respect to the ambient temperature.

Unfortunately, when performing the "greenhouse" calculation without an atmosphere, the result determines that the earth should be some 30C degrees cooler than it is. This is proudly used as proof that the greenhouse effect exists, i.e., the temperature is hotter than the calculation provides, so the atmosphere certainly must be the reason.

However, if one makes the raw energy balance calculation where the incoming solar energy is balanced by the outgoing thermal radiation without resorting to the "greenhouse" model, the mean temperature computed is about 5C degrees. This answer is within the margin of error of averaged global temperature measurements throughout the earth's atmosphere properly weighted by density.

So, if one does not use the greenhouse model to do the calculation, the temperature of the earth is exactly what it should be. If one uses the greenhouse model, the temperature is too high. Further, if one applies the theories to the other planets in the solar system, use of the greenhouse effect always gives the wrong answer where performing the raw calculation without the greenhouse model gives the correct one with the exception of Venus. According to the greenhouse model proponents, Venus confirms the validity of the model. According to the non-greenhouse model, Venus is still cooling from some “recent” event such as an asteroid strike—this because the outgoing thermal radiation from Venus exceeds the incoming solar radiation meaning that Venus is really too hot.

Anthropogenic global warming proponents subscribe to the greenhouse model. Without a greenhouse effect the relative abundance of constituent gasses in the atmosphere can have no effect on global mean temperatures. Since the only way man would be able to affect the global temperature is by changing the relative abundances of these gasses, the greenhouse effect would be necessary for man to either cause or remedy global warming.

The Vostok ice core data shows rather conclusively that changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration have never preceded global temperature changes. In fact, it is just the opposite. In all cases, the temperature changes first and then the carbon dioxide level changes. This fact and the inability of the greenhouse model to accurately describe the temperatures of the planets in the solar system indicate that the model is flawed. By being flawed and by also being a necessary condition for anthropogenic global warming, it indicates that the anthropogenic global warming theory is equally flawed.

Answer 3

The premise of your question is wrong to begin with. If the
Earth emitted as much energy as it received from the Sun it would be at absolute zero. It certainly wouldn't support life of any kind.

Some energy is absorbed some of it is used (photosynthesis) and some of it is reflected and some of it is converted to a different kind. If the Earth was a total emitter of received energy it would be cold dead and barren. The Sun's energy is what fuels the various ecological systems on Earth and is responsible for all life on the planet.

You need to research your question and then re-ask it.

Answer 4

No besides warming the surface, the sun's energy is used to support all the photosynthesis on the planet. That energy is not reflected back.

Answer 5

Nature has that under control,as it gets hotter that produces more clouds which reflects moor energy back in space.

Answer 6

It warms up during the day and cools off at night.