Heat is lost, from a planet, via radiation and the rate of loss depends
on the optical thickness of the atmosphere and the temperature of the
surface doing the radiating. With all the vulcanism and cosmic debris
raining down the atmosphere would be optically thick and very likely
things would be a lot hotter than at present due to the resulting
greenhouse effect. Consideing all the known lava produced in the
Phanerozoic I'd say it'd be a lot hotter, as lava is associated with gas
releases, mostly CO2.
>Most objections that I have read about catastrophic events are based
solely
>on the increase of heat into the system with nothing being calculated
about
>the corresponding increase in radiation of heat into space.
>You hear of how Noah and Family would be broiled alive in extreme
>temperatures. But where is the calculations of corresponding heat loss
>into space?
>
The point is the output goes up, but only with the average temperature.
To lose heat rapidly it has to be really, really hot! The
impact/vulcanism energy input you're discussing would probably cause
substantial amounts of evaporation and water is a super-greenhouse gas,
not mention all the extra CO2 from lava, fires and oxidation of biomass.
Plus methane from biomass decay and vulcanism...
So much of the heat outflow would be impeded and then things would
really heat up! And hot seawater doesn't hold on to CO2 that well
either, so the process could accelerate into a final state much hotter
than any life inside or outside of the Ark could stand.
Adam
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