Measurements indicate that in the last 60 years of global warming the oceans have acquired an extra 228*1021J of heat energy. The ocean covers approximately 71% of Earth's surface, an area of 361*106km2 and has an average depth of the ocean is 3.682 km. The density of sea water is 1023.6 kg/m3 , the specific heat of sea water is approximately 3850 J/(kgK) ,and the coefficient of volume expansion can be taken to be .21*10-3C-1. a) What is the temperature increase of ocean water on average over the last 60 years. b) Find the volumetric expansion of the ocean as a result of this temperature increase. c) If the area of the ocean is considered constant by how much has the average height of the ocean surface increased due to this heat influx?
Burning fossil fuels generates heat energy but also emits air pollution and generates greenhouse gases such as CO2 and N2O. The combustion of gigatons of fossil fuels over the last century has lead to the emission of so much greenhouse gas that we have changed the chemical composition of Earth's atmosphere. This chemical change in the atmosphere has enhanced the greenhouse effect leading to global warming and climate change today.
Over 90% of the warming that has occurred on Earth in the last 60 years has occurred in the world's oceans. Most of the excess heat energy acquired by the oceans remains in the uppermost 700 m near the surface of the water, but almost 30% of the heat energy has conducted into the ocean depths. Measurements indicate that in the last 60 years of global warming the oceans have acquired an extra 228*1021J of heat energy.
The ocean covers approximately 71% of Earth's surface, an area of 361*106km2 and has an average depth of the ocean is 3.682 km. The density of sea water is 1023.6 kg/m3 , the specific heat of sea water is approximately 3850 J/(kgK) ,and the coefficient of volume expansion can be taken to be .21*10-3C-1.
a) What is the temperature increase of ocean water on average over the last 60 years.
b) Find the volumetric expansion of the ocean as a result of this temperature increase.
c) If the area of the ocean is considered constant by how much has the average height of the ocean surface increased due to this heat influx?
Step by step
Solved in 5 steps with 10 images