Free energy balance of the Earth is considered in this paper. To drive all meteorological and biotic processes and support own non-equilibrium stationary state the climate system consumes the net free energy, which is determined by difference between incoming free energy flux of solar radiation and total outgoing free energy flux of both reflected solar radiation and emitted to Space thermal radiation of the Earth-atmosphere system. The net free energy at the top of the atmosphere is considered as primary resource of the Earth climate system. Monitoring of the primary resource of the Earth is very important for deeper understanding and prediction of the Global Change. Method for calculation of the free energy fluxes at the top of the atmosphere using spectrometry data (radiances) of the Earth's thermal emitted and reflected solar radiation in entire spectral region from microwave to ultra violet is developed in this paper. Conception of long-term global monitoring of the net free energy flux at the top of the atmosphere using high-resolution spectrometry from Space is considered. Suitable set of sensors and scheme of observations to measure the planet radiances from Space for the monitoring are discussed.

Date Published: 20 January 2005
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 5655, Multispectral and Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Instruments and Applications II, (20 January 2005); doi: 10.1117/12.585089

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5655:
Multispectral and Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Instruments and Applications II
Allen M. Larar; Makoto Suzuki; Qingxi Tong, Editor(s)