Environmental Science

What is Environmental Physics?

Environmental Physics is a Physical Science. Physics examines the principles that govern
how and why materials move and influence each other. It is a foundation of all physical
sciences. Environmental science provides insight into environmental systems and seeks to
understand the mechanisms by which environmental change impacts humans and other
organisms.
Frequency f: the number of complete cycles per second in alternating current direction. unit
of frequency is the hertz 1 Hz; 60 cycles per second
Amplitude, in physics, the maximum displacement or distance moved by a point on a
vibrating body or wave measured from its equilibrium position. It is equal to one-half the
length of the vibration path.
Speed: is a scalar quantity that refers to "how fast an object is moving."
Velocity: is a vector quantity that refers to "the rate at which an object changes its position."
Wavelength: distance between corresponding points of two consecutive waves.
“Corresponding points” refers to two points or particles in the same phase. λ = v/f
Time period:(denoted by 'T') is the time needed for one complete cycle of vibration to pass
in a given point. As the frequency of a wave increases, the time period of the wave decreases.
climate
The average weather of a region or place measured for all seasons over a number of years.
There are three important areas: tropical, temperate and polar.
the weather conditions of a region (temperature, moisture etc).
global climate
The long-term distribution of heat and precipitation on Earth’s surface is called global
climate.
Global climate change is a change in the long-term weather patterns that characterize the
regions of the world.
The term "weather" refers to the short-term (daily) changes in temperature, wind, and/or
precipitation of a region
What Is Climate Change?
Climate change is a change in the usual weather found in a place. This could be a change in
how much rain a place usually gets in a year. Or it could be a change in a place's usual
temperature for a month or season. Climate takes hundreds or even millions of years to
change.
Climate change is a change in the statistical properties of the climate system that persists for
several decades or longer—usually at least 30 years.
The greenhouse effect is a warming process that balances Earth's cooling processes. During
this process, sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere as short-wave radiation. Some of the
radiation is absorbed by the planet's surface. As Earth's surface is heated, it emits long wave
radiation toward the atmosphere. In the atmosphere, some of the long wave radiation is
absorbed by certain gases called greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide
(CO2), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N20), tropospheric
ozone (O3), and water vapor.

Solar spectrum
The sun radiates solar energy or sunlight by electromagnetic waves over a range of
wavelengths known as the Solar Spectrum.
The energy distribution within the solar spectrum is approximately 2% UV, 47% visible and
51% infra-red. Only the visible light band is seen by the human eye.
. ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
2. Electromagnetic spectrum • Distribution of the continuum of all radiant energies can be
plotted either as a function of wavelength or of frequency in a chart known as the
electromagnetic spectrum • It ranges from shorter wavelengths (including X-rays and gamma
rays) to longer wavelengths (microwaves and radio waves)
3. • electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic
radiation • EMR extends over a wide range of energies or wavelengths or frequencies
4. The electromagnetic waves are grouped into types that have similar wavelengths and so
have similar properties. Electromagnetic waves form a continuous series in order of changing
wavelength, frequency and energy. This series is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
Note the following for the solar spectrum:
 About half of the energy is in the visible wavelengths below 0.7 μm. We can tell this
by doing a quick integration.
 O3 and O2 absorb much of the UV irradiance below 300nm high in the atmosphere.
 About 70% of the visible irradiance makes it all the way to sea level.
 O3 absorbs a little of the visible irradiance.
 A significant fraction of the visible irradiance is scattered by clouds and aerosol. Some
is reflected back out into space so that this portion never deposits energy in the Earth
system.
 There are large wavelength bands in which water vapor, CO2, and O3 absorb infrared
irradiance.