{"id":43155,"date":"2025-04-25T10:58:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T10:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/idea.membrane.com\/songwriter\/?p=43155"},"modified":"2025-04-25T10:58:42","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T10:58:42","slug":"radiation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/2025\/04\/25\/radiation\/","title":{"rendered":"Radiation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XII\/Radiation-0.mp3\">Radiation-0.mp3<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XII\/Radiation-0.mp4\">Radiation-0.mp4<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XII\/Radiation-I.mp3\">Radiation-I.mp3<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XII\/Radiation-I.mp4\">Radiation-I.mp4<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XII\/Radiation-intro.mp3\">Radiation-intro.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[Intro]<br \/>\n(Holler:)<br \/>\n&#8220;Solar!&#8221;<br \/>\n(\u2622\ufe0f Radiation)<br \/>\nSay it again<br \/>\n(\u2622\ufe0f Radiation)<\/p>\n<p>[Bridge]<br \/>\nShine<br \/>\n(Shine on our time)<\/p>\n<p>[Verse 1]<br \/>\nTravelin&#8217; through space<br \/>\nToward the human race<br \/>\nWhere they increase the pace<br \/>\nOf disgrace<\/p>\n<p>[Chorus]<br \/>\n(Radiation)<br \/>\nRed alert<br \/>\n(Radiation)<br \/>\nGonna get hurt<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s our time to shine<br \/>\n[Bridge]<br \/>\n(Shine)<br \/>\nShine on our time<br \/>\n(Shine)<br \/>\nShine the light on insight<\/p>\n<p>(Shine on our time)<\/p>\n<p>[Verse 2]<br \/>\nOnce it gets past<br \/>\nTrapped in our gas<br \/>\nChanging things fast<br \/>\n(Holler solar!)<br \/>\n&#8230; but alass<\/p>\n<p>[Chorus]<br \/>\n(Radiation)<br \/>\nRed alert<br \/>\n(Radiation)<br \/>\nGonna get hurt<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s our time to shine<br \/>\n(Shine)<\/p>\n<p>[Outro]<br \/>\nShine on our time<br \/>\n(Shine)<br \/>\nShine the light on insight<\/p>\n<p>A SCIENCE NOTE: Earth&#8217;s <strong data-start=\"57\" data-end=\"75\">climate system<\/strong> and energy transfer<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"220\" data-end=\"274\"><strong data-start=\"226\" data-end=\"274\">1. Solar Radiation: How Energy Reaches Earth<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"276\" data-end=\"295\">Incoming Energy<\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"296\" data-end=\"540\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"296\" data-end=\"394\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"298\" data-end=\"394\">The Sun emits <strong data-start=\"312\" data-end=\"341\">electromagnetic radiation<\/strong>, mostly in <strong data-start=\"353\" data-end=\"393\">visible light, UV, and near-infrared<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"395\" data-end=\"540\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"397\" data-end=\"540\">This radiation <strong data-start=\"412\" data-end=\"437\">travels through space<\/strong> and reaches Earth \u2014 about <strong data-start=\"464\" data-end=\"478\">1,361 W\/m\u00b2<\/strong> at the top of the atmosphere (called the <strong data-start=\"520\" data-end=\"538\">solar constant<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"547\" data-end=\"590\">\u00a0<strong data-start=\"553\" data-end=\"590\">2. How That Energy Is Distributed<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"592\" data-end=\"618\">In the <strong data-start=\"603\" data-end=\"617\">Atmosphere<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"619\" data-end=\"914\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"619\" data-end=\"747\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"621\" data-end=\"747\">About <strong data-start=\"627\" data-end=\"650\">30% of solar energy<\/strong> is <strong data-start=\"654\" data-end=\"667\">reflected<\/strong> back to space by <strong data-start=\"685\" data-end=\"726\">clouds, aerosols, and Earth\u2019s surface<\/strong> (called <strong data-start=\"735\" data-end=\"745\">albedo<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"748\" data-end=\"838\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"750\" data-end=\"838\">About <strong data-start=\"756\" data-end=\"775\">20% is absorbed<\/strong> by the atmosphere, mostly by <strong data-start=\"805\" data-end=\"837\">water vapor, ozone, and dust<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"839\" data-end=\"914\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"841\" data-end=\"914\">Some is scattered \u2014 especially shorter wavelengths (why the sky is blue).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"916\" data-end=\"936\">On the <strong data-start=\"927\" data-end=\"935\">Land<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"937\" data-end=\"1213\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"937\" data-end=\"1026\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"939\" data-end=\"1026\">Land surfaces <strong data-start=\"953\" data-end=\"979\">absorb solar radiation<\/strong> and convert it into <strong data-start=\"1000\" data-end=\"1025\">heat (thermal energy)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1213\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1029\" data-end=\"1044\">That energy is:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1213\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1097\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1049\" data-end=\"1097\">Re-radiated as <strong data-start=\"1064\" data-end=\"1097\">infrared (longwave) radiation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1100\" data-end=\"1148\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1102\" data-end=\"1148\">Used in <strong data-start=\"1110\" data-end=\"1125\">evaporation<\/strong> (latent heat transfer)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1151\" data-end=\"1213\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1153\" data-end=\"1213\">Conducted downward into soil or transferred to the air above<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1215\" data-end=\"1237\">In the <strong data-start=\"1226\" data-end=\"1236\">Oceans<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"1238\" data-end=\"1460\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1238\" data-end=\"1299\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1240\" data-end=\"1299\">Water absorbs sunlight, especially in the upper few meters.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1300\" data-end=\"1388\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1302\" data-end=\"1388\">Oceans store huge amounts of <strong data-start=\"1331\" data-end=\"1349\">thermal energy<\/strong> due to water&#8217;s high <strong data-start=\"1370\" data-end=\"1387\">heat capacity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1389\" data-end=\"1460\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1391\" data-end=\"1460\">Ocean currents (like the Gulf Stream) <strong data-start=\"1429\" data-end=\"1450\">redistribute heat<\/strong> globally.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"1467\" data-end=\"1502\">\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1473\" data-end=\"1502\">3. Earth&#8217;s Energy Balance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1504\" data-end=\"1598\">To stay stable, Earth must <strong data-start=\"1531\" data-end=\"1545\">re-radiate<\/strong> as much energy as it receives. This happens through:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1599\" data-end=\"1775\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1599\" data-end=\"1647\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1601\" data-end=\"1647\"><strong data-start=\"1601\" data-end=\"1647\">Infrared radiation emitted back into space<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1648\" data-end=\"1775\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1650\" data-end=\"1775\">Regulated by <strong data-start=\"1663\" data-end=\"1683\">greenhouse gases<\/strong> like CO\u2082, CH\u2084, and water vapor, which <strong data-start=\"1722\" data-end=\"1749\">trap some outgoing heat<\/strong> \u2014 keeping Earth habitable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"1853\">This is called the <strong data-start=\"1796\" data-end=\"1817\">greenhouse effect<\/strong> \u2014 <strong data-start=\"1820\" data-end=\"1845\">natural and necessary<\/strong>, but&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"1860\" data-end=\"1917\"><strong data-start=\"1866\" data-end=\"1917\">4. How Human Activity Is Disrupting the Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1919\" data-end=\"1956\">A. <strong data-start=\"1926\" data-end=\"1956\">Enhanced Greenhouse Effect<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"1957\" data-end=\"2203\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1957\" data-end=\"2051\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1959\" data-end=\"2051\"><strong data-start=\"1959\" data-end=\"1983\">Burning fossil fuels<\/strong> adds extra CO\u2082, CH\u2084, and N\u2082O \u2014 increasing the greenhouse gas layer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2052\" data-end=\"2130\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2054\" data-end=\"2130\">This traps <strong data-start=\"2065\" data-end=\"2078\">more heat<\/strong> and reduces the energy Earth sends back into space.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2131\" data-end=\"2203\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2133\" data-end=\"2203\">Result: <strong data-start=\"2141\" data-end=\"2159\">global warming<\/strong> \u2014 land, oceans, and atmosphere all heat up.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2205\" data-end=\"2232\">B. <strong data-start=\"2212\" data-end=\"2232\">Land Use Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"2233\" data-end=\"2455\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2233\" data-end=\"2359\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2235\" data-end=\"2359\"><strong data-start=\"2235\" data-end=\"2252\">Deforestation<\/strong> reduces the Earth&#8217;s albedo (dark forests absorb more than bright grass or snow) and limits carbon capture.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2360\" data-end=\"2455\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2362\" data-end=\"2455\"><strong data-start=\"2362\" data-end=\"2378\">Urbanization<\/strong> adds heat-absorbing surfaces (asphalt, concrete), creating <strong data-start=\"2438\" data-end=\"2454\">heat islands<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2457\" data-end=\"2494\">C. <strong data-start=\"2464\" data-end=\"2494\">Aerosols and Air Pollution<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"2495\" data-end=\"2680\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2495\" data-end=\"2559\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2497\" data-end=\"2559\">Some aerosols <strong data-start=\"2511\" data-end=\"2531\">reflect sunlight<\/strong>, causing temporary cooling.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2560\" data-end=\"2680\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2562\" data-end=\"2680\">Others, like black carbon (soot), <strong data-start=\"2596\" data-end=\"2611\">absorb heat<\/strong> and settle on ice, <strong data-start=\"2631\" data-end=\"2655\">accelerating melting<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"2660\" data-end=\"2679\">lowering albedo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2682\" data-end=\"2709\">D. <strong data-start=\"2689\" data-end=\"2709\">Ocean Disruption<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"2710\" data-end=\"2903\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2710\" data-end=\"2834\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2712\" data-end=\"2834\">Warmer water expands, raises sea levels, and <strong data-start=\"2757\" data-end=\"2778\">disrupts currents<\/strong> (like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2835\" data-end=\"2903\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2837\" data-end=\"2903\">Melting polar ice <strong data-start=\"2855\" data-end=\"2877\">reduces reflection<\/strong> and increases absorption.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"2910\" data-end=\"2929\">Summary Table<\/h2>\n<div class=\"group pointer-events-none relative flex justify-center *:pointer-events-auto\"><button class=\"hover:bg-token-main-surface-secondary text-token-text-secondary pointer-events-auto rounded-lg px-1 py-1 opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-200 group-focus-within:opacity-100 group-hover:opacity-100\"><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"tableContainer horzScrollShadows relative\">\n<table class=\"min-w-full\" data-start=\"2931\" data-end=\"3398\">\n<thead data-start=\"2931\" data-end=\"3022\">\n<tr data-start=\"2931\" data-end=\"3022\">\n<th data-start=\"2931\" data-end=\"2946\">Region<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"2946\" data-end=\"2977\">Natural Energy Transfer<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"2977\" data-end=\"3022\">Human Impact<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"3116\" data-end=\"3398\">\n<tr data-start=\"3116\" data-end=\"3209\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3116\" data-end=\"3131\">Atmosphere<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3131\" data-end=\"3164\">Absorbs, reflects, re-radiates<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3164\" data-end=\"3209\">More GHGs trap more heat (warming)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"3210\" data-end=\"3303\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3210\" data-end=\"3225\">Land<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3225\" data-end=\"3258\">Absorbs sunlight, re-radiates<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3258\" data-end=\"3303\">Deforestation, urban heat islands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"3304\" data-end=\"3398\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3304\" data-end=\"3319\">Oceans<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"3319\" data-end=\"3353\">Absorbs &amp; stores heat, moves it<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)\/3)]\" data-start=\"3353\" data-end=\"3398\">Warming, acidification, current disruption<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"3405\" data-end=\"3441\">\u00a0Bonus: Climate Feedback Loops<\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"3442\" data-end=\"3637\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3442\" data-end=\"3507\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3444\" data-end=\"3507\"><strong data-start=\"3444\" data-end=\"3459\">Melting ice<\/strong> \u2192 lower albedo \u2192 more absorption \u2192 more warming<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3508\" data-end=\"3573\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3510\" data-end=\"3573\"><strong data-start=\"3510\" data-end=\"3528\">Warming oceans<\/strong> \u2192 less CO\u2082 absorption \u2192 more GHGs in the air<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3574\" data-end=\"3637\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3576\" data-end=\"3637\"><strong data-start=\"3576\" data-end=\"3598\">Thawing permafrost<\/strong> \u2192 releases methane \u2192 even more warming<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>From the album &#8220;<a href=\"\/songwriter\/tag\/zip-zap\/\">Zip-Zap<\/a>&#8220;<\/h3>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/membrane.com\/global_warming\/\">The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment<\/a><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Radiation-0.mp3 Radiation-0.mp4 Radiation-I.mp3 Radiation-I.mp4 Radiation-intro.mp3 [Intro] (Holler:) &#8220;Solar!&#8221; (\u2622\ufe0f Radiation) Say it again (\u2622\ufe0f Radiation) [Bridge] Shine (Shine on our time) [Verse 1] Travelin&#8217; through space Toward the human race Where they increase the pace Of disgrace [Chorus] (Radiation) Red alert (Radiation) Gonna get hurt It&#8217;s our time to shine [Bridge] (Shine) Shine on our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9,14],"tags":[163,4119],"class_list":["post-43155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4d-music","category-daniel","category-lyrics","tag-climate-change","tag-zip-zap"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43155"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43180,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43155\/revisions\/43180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}