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Wize University Physics Textbook (Master) > Heat and Temperature

Heat Transfer: Solar System

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Sun and Earth Model

  • In this model, the Sun is the primary source of radiation and the Earth absorbs part of the incident radiation from the Sun and radiates it back as a radiating source.

  • The heat flow radiated by the Sun:
HSun=σTSun4ASunH_{Sun}=\sigma T_{Sun}^4 A_{Sun}
  • Intensity of the Sun's radiation on the Earth:
Iincident=σTSun4(RSundE→s)2I_{incident}=\sigma T_{Sun}^4 \bigg(\dfrac{R_{Sun}}{d_{E\to s}} \bigg)^2
  • The heat flow absorbed by Earth:
Hin=σTSun4(RSundE→S)2⋅πREarth2(1−Albedo)H_{in}=\sigma T_{Sun}^4 (\dfrac{R_{Sun}}{d_{E\to S}})^2\cdot\pi R_{Earth}^2 (1-Albedo)
  • The heat flow radiated by Earth:
Hout=σTEarth4⋅4πREarth2H_{out}=\sigma T_{Earth}^4\cdot 4\pi R_{Earth}^2
  • TEarthT_{Earth} could be found by assuming that Earth radiates back all the heat it absorbs (Hnet=0H_{net}=0)
TEarth=TSun[(RSundE→s)2⋅(1−Albedo)4]14T_{Earth}=T_{Sun} \bigg[\Big(\dfrac{R_{Sun}}{d_{E\to s}} \Big)^2\cdot\dfrac{(1-Albedo)}{4}\bigg]^{\frac{1}{4}}