Earth is a closed system

Michael Schwarze (Mailbag, July 14) presented a misleading-thought experiment to refute my presentation of the global climate process referred to as the "Greenhouse Effect."

His description of a pickup truck sitting in the sun is wrong in two respects. First, Earth is, practically speaking, a closed system; it does not exchange matter in any significant quantity with the solar system or beyond. The Earth cannot simply "open the door" and let the heat out.

The second fallacy is in his understanding of the means by which the sun's energy (heat) is rejected by the Earth. There are three ways in which heat can be transferred from the Earth, through the atmosphere, and back to space: conduction (gas molecules banging into one another), convection (large quantities of molecules moving together, as in hot air rising), and radiation of long-wave electromagnetic energy.

Of these three, radiation is by far the dominant mode. Convection (by thermal air flows from the ground) contributes a minute portion of the 240 watts per square meter (averaged over 24 hours) that the Earth must reject to stay in thermal balance with the sun. Conduction contributes none at all. So, radiation accounts for the rejection of nearly all of the heat that is absorbed by the Earth.

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor intercept some of the radiation from the ground and re-radiate part of it back to Earth. The amount of energy radiated from the Earth is strongly dependent on the average temperature of the Earth and its atmosphere. If there are more molecules absorbing more of the radiation, then the average temperature must increase to overwhelm these absorbers and establish a new thermal balance. This process is the greenhouse effect. It explains how increased concentrations of IR-absorbing gases result in a new global thermal equilibrium and a hotter Earth. I encourage interested readers to check out the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, available on the web.

Robert Waterhouse, Scio

Additional thoughts on festival

I would like to add some facts to the article in the Albany Democrat-Herald on July 19 by Jennifer Moody, concerning the first Willamette Country Music Festival in Brownsville.

Why couldn't Alexis, a hometown favorite, have had her picture in color on the front page as did Terri Clark (from Canada) who sang at the Linn County Fair?

Yes, the signs could have been larger and more colorful, but they were nice.

Speaking of the ground, it was rough, but it was a growing crop just a week before the event.

I don't know what more in the way of food you could want - there were vendors for chicken fajitas, corn on the cob, cheese steaks, corn dogs, hot dogs for $1, hamburgers, curly fries, kettle corn, fresh lemonade, cold beer and water. I almost forgot the watermelon spikes, funnel cakes, elephant ears, turkey legs, baked beans and biscuits and gravy.

There was a tent for the VIP ticket holders with plenty of finger food, as well as another tent behind the stage for the entertainers, stage and production crews.

At the opening on Friday night, Warren Williamson, executive director, welcomed all and then called on Brownsville mayor, Don Ware, who also welcomed all and invited them to attend citywide garage sales on Saturday.

The Oregon National Guard presented the colors and held a memorial for the young men, Travis Moothart from Brownsville, Kevin Davis from Lebanon and Tyler Troyer from Albany, who lost their lives in Iraq. Parents and other family members were present for the service, which ended with nationally known singer Amy Clawson singing the national anthem.

There was plenty of room for camping and parking, along with a nice breeze all three hot days.

A big thank you to Warren and Ann Hankins for working 16 months in getting this show on the road. It was wonderful, and many folks stated that they would be back next year. A thank you to Wendell and Pat Manning for the use of the field, too!

There was a "family fun" area for the kids and the Bi-Mart monster trucks were there for rides.

Many attended the church service on Sunday morning and it was a nice way to start the day.

Doreen Eagy, Halsey

Kudos to Warren Williamsen and all his production crew for the first Willamette Country Music Festival.

Just try to imagine the organization to put this on. Not just the performers with their bands, but the voluntary help he had, the security and the wonderful food court.

Thank you, Pat Manning, for providing the beautiful site.

We think Brownsville citizens are proud. If they aren't they should be very appreciative. We are.

Fred and Edi Smith, Brownsville