| Climate |
| Observations |
Atoms and Molecules
08-Feb-25
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Howard “Cork” Hayden, Prof. Emeritus of Physics, UConn, corkhayden@comcast.net |
Abstract: To understand both the bites taken out of the IR spectrum by atmospheric gases and the radiative forcing due to changes in concentrations of those gases, it is necessary to understand a little bit about spectra. Figure 3 shows the spectra of visible light for hydrogen and helium atoms in the usual way: vertical lines as they are seen in a spectroscope. At the left of Figure 3 is a schematic energy level diagram for hydrogen showing the transitions between levels as colored arrows representing the colors of light emitted. The intensity of the lines in the spectroscope manifests itself in the brightness of the lines.
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| Omissions |
Radiative Forcing
08-Feb-25
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Howard “Cork” Hayden, Prof. Emeritus of Physics, UConn, corkhayden@comcast.net |
Abstract: The heat balance of the earth—like that of every planet and moon—is determined by precisely three variables: sunlight at orbit, albedo (reflectivity), and the amount of IR going to space. All of them involve radiation, either visible light from the sun or invisible IR. The IPCC defines radiative forcing not as the quantities of these radiative contributions, but as changes in them from some reference point (typically the 1850-1900 period, but sometimes the present).
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| Endangerment Finding |
| Climate Science |
What “Climate Science” is Not About
01-Jan-25
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Howard “Cork” Hayden, Prof. Emeritus of Physics, UConn, corkhayden@comcast.net |
Abstract: Al Gore’s movie An Inconvenient Truth left some lasting—and very incorrect—impressions. One of them is shown near the tip of his finger in the figure to the right, as he correctly points out that “some of this infrared radiation is trapped by the earth’s atmosphere and warms it.”
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| Energy |
| Generation |
Capacity Factor
08-Mar-25
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Howard “Cork” Hayden, Prof. Emeritus of Physics, UConn, corkhayden@comcast.net |
Abstract: The capacity factor is defined as the long-term (usually annual) average amount of power produced compared to the nameplate power. Nuclear power stations operate at about 92% capacity factor; their job is to provide baseload power, and stability is best achieved with steady power output.
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| Energy |
| Wind and Solar |
Big Surprise!
28-Feb-25
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Howard “Cork” Hayden, Prof. Emeritus of Physics, UConn, corkhayden@comcast.net |
Abstract: Reward some behavior, and you get more of it. Everybody who has been paying attention has noticed that wind and solar have been highly subsidized. Unsurprisingly, we now have more of it.
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