Past exam of the physics B course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / Paper 1 / Section A / A4

Let absorbed solar flux per unit surface area be $F_{\odot }=\sigma T_0^4$. The single-layer greenhouse model emits infrared upward and downward. Top-of-atmosphere balance gives $\sigma T_a^4=F_{\odot }$, hence $T_a=T_0$. Surface balance is $\sigma T_s^4=F_{\odot }+\sigma T_a^4$, soThe layer simultaneously satisfies $\sigma T_s^4=2\sigma T_a^4$. This ideal radiative model excludes convection, spectral windows and atmospheric temperature structure; it is not a quantitative prediction for the real atmosphere.