Do Global Energy budgets make sense. ???

[Richard111]

Derek, this paper may give you food for thought:

Adiabatic Theory predicts slight cooling from Doubled CO2

Here is the bit I thought might interest you: (pg 4 of the paper, pg 5 of the pdf)

Quote:It is noteworthy that in Eq. (10) the solar constant S is divided by 4 because the area of Earth’s disk insolation is 4 times lower than the total illuminated area of Earth. Equation (10) is valid only if the axis of rotation of planet is strictly perpendicular to the ecliptic plane, i.e., the angle of precession (angle) is equal to zero.
The angle of inclination of equatorial plane to the ecliptic plane is not equal to zero and is changing in time. Therefore, each of the Earth’s polar regions is insolated during half a year only. In another half a year, it is deprived of the influx of solar energy. When one polar region is insolated, the other is situated in the shadow of Earth’s body and does not receive the solar energy. The rest of Earth’s surface receives its portion of solar energy on a regular basis and, consequently, Eq. (10) is valid for calculation of temperature of air. Therefore, in computing the average temperature of “inclined” planet at high latitudes (polar regions), one needs to divide the solar constant by 2 (not by 4). In addition, one has to take into consideration the spherical shape of polar region. As a result, the solar constant in Eq. (10) has to be divided by a number N, which lies between 2 and 4. Taking all of the above into consideration and assuming that the precession angle is relatively small, one can derive the following equation for the distribution of average temperature in troposphere: