Quote
Christos Vournas
@CVournas44116
·
May 18
The NEW Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Bala... https://cristos-vournas.com/blog/the-new-planetary-surface-radiative-energy-balance…
- Christos Vournas challenges the traditional greenhouse effect model, arguing that Earth's higher average surface temperature (288K) compared to the Moon's (220K) is primarily due to Earth's faster rotation (29.5 times faster) and higher surface specific heat (water at 1 cal/gr°C vs. lunar regolith at 0.19 cal/gr°C), not atmospheric insulation.
- Vournas introduces the "Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon," proposing that a planet's mean surface temperature scales with the sixteenth root of the product of its rotation rate (N) and specific heat capacity (cp), demonstrating this with a 1.63% difference between calculated and observed Earth-Moon temperature ratios.
- The post critiques mainstream radiative energy balance models by incorporating a Solar Irradiation Accepting Factor (Φ), which adjusts for surface smoothness (Φ = 0.47 for smooth planets like Earth, 1 for rough ones), suggesting that specular reflection has been overlooked in prior estimations.
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Quote
Christos Vournas
@CVournas44116
·
May 18
The NEW Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Bala... https://cristos-vournas.com/blog/the-new-planetary-surface-radiative-energy-balance…
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- The X post by Christos Vournas discusses a "NEW Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Balance." It looks like he's sharing a new theory about how planets manage their energy, which is key for climate studies.
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Searching for Christos Vournas Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Balance
The Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon
cristos-vournas.com
Earth's energy budget - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
The Earth-Atmosphere Energy Balance | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
www.noaa.gov
Beware Energy Balance Cartoons – Iowa Climate Science Education
iowaclimate.org
Climate and Earth’s Energy Budget
earthobservatory.nasa.gov
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- Christos Vournas has a blog at https://cristos-vournas.com/ where he shares his ideas. The first result matches his X post, titled "The Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon."
- He's proposing that a planet's rotation rate and specific heat capacity, not just the greenhouse effect, influence its average surface temperature. For instance, Earth's higher temperature compared to the Moon
Browsing cristos-vournas.com for Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Balance
- Vournas introduces the Solar Irradiation Accepting Factor (Φ) to correct for specular reflection, which he claims was overlooked before. This factor is 0.47 for smooth surfaces like Earth and the Moon, for example.
- His model shows better fits for measured temperatures, like Earth's ratio of 1.365, close to his calculated 1.368. It suggests rotation and heat capacity matter more than the greenhouse effect.
- Mercury and the Moon have criteria less than 1, while faster rotators like Earth and Mars show higher values. This challenges the idea that the greenhouse effect mainly explains Earth's warmth.
- Vournas attributes Earth's higher temperature to its faster rotation and water coverage, not just greenhouse gases. I'm curious how this fits with other climate models, you know?
Browsing rclutz.com for Christos Vournas planetary temperature model
- Ron Clutz is presenting Vournas's model and seems supportive. He's sharing the equation for mean surface temperature, which includes factors like solar flux and axial spin.
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March | 2022 | Climate Etc.
judithcurry.com
Week in review – climate science edition | Climate Etc.
judithcurry.com
The Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon
cristos-vournas.com
ABOUT US | cristos-vournas.com
www.cristos-vournas.com
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- Vournas has a presence on platforms like his blog, Climate Etc., and ResearchGate. But I can't find direct links to peer-reviewed papers in journals.
- His blog seems to be where he shares most of his ideas, with discussions on sites like Climate Etc. and Science Matters. It looks like his work isn't widely accepted yet, so I'll be cautious.
Evaluating Vournas's claims
- Vournas challenges the greenhouse effect, saying Earth's rotation and water heat capacity explain its warmth. He notes Earth's 288K vs. Moon's 220K, linked to rotation speed and heat capacity.
- He's introducing a "Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon" with a new formula. It includes rotation rate and specific heat, like water at 1 cal/gr°C vs. lunar regolith at 0.19 cal/gr°C.
Analyzing Vournas's model
- Vournas's equation for mean surface temperature includes factors like solar flux and rotation rate. It uses the Solar Irradiation Accepting Factor (Φ), set at 0.47 for smooth surfaces like Earth.
- His model predicts Earth's temperature at 287.74K, close to the observed 288K. It doesn't rely on the greenhouse effect, which is a big shift from traditional views.
- Vournas compares calculated and satellite-measured temperatures for bodies like Mercury and Mars. This table shows his model fits well, suggesting rotation and heat capacity are key.
Completed
Key Points
- Research suggests Earth's higher temperature compared to the Moon may be due to faster rotation and higher specific heat capacity, not just the greenhouse effect, as proposed by Christos Vournas.
- Vournas's model, the "Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon," is controversial and not widely accepted in mainstream science.
- It seems likely that his ideas challenge traditional climate models, focusing on rotation and surface properties.
Background
The X post by Christos Vournas, posted on May 18, 2025, at 14:29 UTC, discusses a new concept called the "NEW Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Balance." Vournas, a mechanical engineer, argues that Earth's average surface temperature (288K) is higher than the Moon's (220K) primarily due to Earth's faster rotation (29.5 times faster) and higher specific heat capacity (water at 1 cal/gr°C vs. lunar regolith at 0.19 cal/gr°C), rather than atmospheric insulation.
Vournas's Model
Vournas introduces the "Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon," suggesting that a planet's mean surface temperature is influenced by its rotation rate and specific heat capacity. He proposes a formula that incorporates a Solar Irradiation Accepting Factor (Φ = 0.47 for smooth surfaces like Earth) to correct for specular reflection, which he claims is neglected in traditional models. His calculations show close matches to observed temperatures, such as 287.74K for Earth compared to the measured 288K.
Controversy and Context
This model challenges the greenhouse effect's role, suggesting Earth's atmosphere contributes less to warming than previously thought. However, it is not peer-reviewed and appears primarily on Vournas's blog
, with support from some blogs like Science Matters, but lacking mainstream scientific acceptance.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Christos Vournas's X Post on Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Balance
This note provides a comprehensive analysis of the X post by Christos Vournas (
@CVournas44116
), posted on May 18, 2025, at 14:29 UTC, which discusses the "NEW Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Balance." The post, accessible at Christos Vournas's X post, includes a link to further details, and this analysis explores Vournas's proposed model, its implications, and its scientific context.
Introduction to the X Post
The X post by Christos Vournas references a concept termed the "NEW Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Balance," with a truncated message suggesting a link to an external source (https://t.co/DLRLWpOvjK). Given the date (May 18, 2025), which aligns with the current timeframe, the post is recent and relevant. Vournas, identified as a mechanical engineer with a blog at The Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon, appears to be promoting his alternative model for planetary surface temperatures.
Vournas's Core Argument: Challenging the Greenhouse Effect
Vournas argues that the traditional greenhouse effect model, which attributes Earth's higher average surface temperature (288K) compared to the Moon's (220K) to atmospheric insulation, is incomplete. Instead, he posits that the temperature difference is primarily due to:
- Faster Rotation: Earth rotates 29.5 times faster than the Moon, affecting heat distribution.
- Higher Specific Heat Capacity: Earth's surface, covered with water (1 cal/gr°C), has a higher specific heat capacity compared to the Moon's regolith (0.19 cal/gr°C), allowing it to store more heat.
This perspective is encapsulated in his "Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon," which suggests that planetary mean surface temperature is significantly amplified by rotation rate and specific heat capacity, rather than atmospheric effects.
The Model: Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon
Vournas's model is detailed on his blog and includes a mathematical formulation for mean surface temperature:
Tmean = [ Φ (1-a) S (β*N*cp)¹∕ ⁴ /4σ ] ¹∕ ⁴ (K) (3)
Where:
- Φ\Phi\Phi
is the Solar Irradiation Accepting Factor, set at 0.47 for smooth surfaces (e.g., Earth, Moon, Mercury) and 1 for rough surfaces, accounting for specular reflection. - (a) is the planet's albedo (reflectivity).
- (S) is the solar flux (e.g., 1,361 W/m² for Earth).
- β\beta\beta
is a constant, 150 days·g·°C/rotation·cal, representing the Rotating Planet Surface Solar Irradiation Absorbing-Emitting Universal Law. - (N) is the planet's axial spin (rotations/day, e.g., 1 for Earth).
- cpc_pc_p
is the specific heat capacity (e.g., 1 cal/gr°C for Earth's water-covered surface). - σ\sigma\sigma
is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant, 5.67 × 10⁻⁸ W/m²K⁴.
This formula corrects for what Vournas claims is a neglected factor in traditional models: specular reflection, which affects how much solar energy is absorbed by smooth surfaces. He argues that previous radiative energy balance estimations failed to account for this, leading to inaccuracies.
Comparative Analysis: Calculated vs. Measured Temperatures
Vournas provides a table comparing his calculated temperatures with satellite-measured temperatures, demonstrating the model's accuracy. Below is the relevant data extracted from his blog:
Table 1. Comparison of Predicted (Tmean) vs. Measured (Tsat) Temperature for All Planets and moons in solar system
Tmean = [ Φ (1-a) S (β*N*cp)¹∕ ⁴ /4σ ]¹∕ ⁴ (K) (3)
Table 1. Comparison of Predicted vs. Measured Temperature for All Planets
Distance Flux Factor Bond rot /day surface cal /gr.°C Warming.Factor °K °K °K °K
( AU ) ( W/m² ) Φ Albedo N Spin Type Cp (β*N*cp)¹∕ ⁴ Te Te.correct Tmean Tsat
Mercury 0,387 9082,7 0,47 0,068 0,00568 basalt 0,20 0,64250 439,6 364,0 325,83 340
Venus 0,723 2601,3 1 0,77 60/243 gases 0,19 1,6287 226,6 255,98 - 737
Earth 1,0 1361 0,47 0,306 1,0 ocean 1 3,4996 254 210 287,74 288
Moon 1,0 1361 0,47 0,11 0,0339 regolith 0,19 0,99141 270,4 224 223,35 220
Mars 1,524 586,4 0,47 0,25 0,9728 rock 0,18 2,26495 209,8 174 213,11 210
Ceres 2,77 177,38 1 0,09 2,645 ice 1 4,463 162,9 162,9 236 -
Jupiter 5,20 50,37 1 0,503 2,417 gases - - 102 102 - 165 at 1 bar level Link
Io 5,20 50,37 1 0,63 0,5559 rock 0,145 1,8647 95,16 95,16 111,5 110
Europa 5,20 50,37 0,47 0,63 0,2816 ice 1 2,5494 95,16 78,83 99,56 102
Ganymede 5,20 50,37 0,47 0,41 0,1398 ice 1 2,14 107,08 88,59 107,14 110
Callisto 5,20 50,37 1 0,22 0,0599 ice 1 1,7313 114,66 114,66 131,52 134±11
Saturn 9,58 14,84 1 0,342 2,273 gases - - 81 81 - 134 at 1 bar level Link
Enceladus 9,58 14,84 1 0,85 0,7299 ice 1 3,2347 55,97 55,97 75,06 75
Tethys 9,58 14,84 1 0,70 0,52971 ice 1 2,9856 66,55 66,55 87,48 86 ± 1
Titan 9,58 14,84 1 0,22 0,06289 gases 0,4980 1,47223 84,52 84,52 93,10 93,7
Uranus 19,22 3,687 1 0,30 1,389 gases - - 58 MM * - - 76 at 1 bar level
Neptune 30,33 1,48 1 0,29 1,493 gases - - 46,4 46,4 - 72 at 1 bar level Link
Triton 30,33 1,48 0,47 (?) 0,76 0,17021 rock 0,4116 1,800 35,4 29,29 33,92 38
2) Triton 30,33 1,48 1 (?) 0,76 0,17021 rock 0,4116 1,800 35,4 35,4 40,97 38
Pluto 39,48 0,874 1 0,50 0,1565 rock 0,248 1,5533 37 37 41,6 44
Charon 39,48 0,874 1 0,2 0,1565 ice 1 2,2014 41,90 41,90 51,04 53
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Te.correct vs Tsat.mean comparison table
Planet…........Te........Te.correct.......Tmean….Tsat.mean
Mercury....439,6 K…….364 K..........325,83 K…..340 K
Earth……...255 K…......210 K...........287,74 K…..288 K
Moon……..270,4 Κ…....224 K..........223,35 Κ…..220 Κ
Mars….…..209,8. K…….174 K...........213,11 K…..210 K
For Earth, the calculated Tmean (287.74K) is remarkably close to the measured 288K, suggesting his model accounts for the temperature without invoking the greenhouse effect. Similarly, for the Moon, the calculated 223,35K aligns with the measured 220K, reinforcing his claim.
Another table from his blog compares the ratio of measured temperature to corrected effective temperature (Tsat/Te.correct) with a rotational warming factor:
Planet..Warming factor... Φ......(Tsat /Te)....(Tsat /Te.correct)
..................(β*N*cp)^1/16 criteria criteria
Mercury........0,895.................0,47........0,773..................0,934
Moon.............0,998.................0,47........0,815...................0,982
Earth..............1,368..................0,47........1,134.....................1,365
Mars...............1,227...................0,47........ 1............................1,207
Ceres.............1,4535.................1.............. - ............................. - ......
Io......................1,169....................1................1,156.....................1,156
Europa.........1,264..................0,47.........1,072....................1,294
Ganymede....1,209..............0,47..........1,028...................1,242
Callisto............1,147..................1................1,169.....................1,169
Enceladus....1,341..................1................1,340...................1,340
Tethys..........1,315.....................1................1,292....................1,292
Titan..............1,1015..................1................1,1086.................1,1086
Triton...........1,158.....................? ..............1,297. ?...............1,297 ?
Pluto............1,116......................1................1,189.....................1,189
Charon.........1,218..................1................1,265.....................1,265
Only for the very slow rotating Mercury and Moon the CRITERIA are less than UNITY (< 1).
This table shows that only slow rotators like Mercury and the Moon have criteria less than 1, while faster rotators like Earth and Mars have higher values, supporting his rotational warming hypothesis.
Implications and Controversy
Vournas's model implies that the conventional 33°C warming attributed to the greenhouse effect (288K - 255K) is overstated. He suggests Earth's thin atmosphere plays a minimal role, with warming driven by rotational dynamics and surface properties. This is a significant departure from established climate science, which emphasizes greenhouse gases like CO₂ and methane as key to Earth's temperature.
The controversy arises because Vournas's work is not peer-reviewed and appears primarily on his blog and supportive platforms like Science Matters. While blogs like Climate Etc. mention his name, there is no evidence of publication in scientific journals, as seen in searches for his papers on platforms like ResearchGate, where other researchers with similar names (e.g., Costas Vournas) focus on different fields like electrical engineering.
Scientific Context and Counterarguments
Traditional climate science, as outlined in resources like Earth's energy budget, relies on the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation, with the atmosphere's greenhouse effect trapping heat. Vournas's model, by contrast, denies significant atmospheric warming, focusing on physical properties like rotation and specific heat. This is supported by some blogs, such as Beware Energy Balance Cartoons, which discuss his work, but mainstream sources like NOAA's Earth-Atmosphere Energy Balance emphasize atmospheric roles, noting the Moon's 0°F (-18°C) average due to no atmosphere.
Critics might argue that Vournas's model overlooks complex atmospheric dynamics, such as cloud cover, aerosols, and greenhouse gas concentrations, which are well-documented in climate models. His focus on rotation and specific heat, while innovative, may not fully account for these factors, especially given Earth's dynamic climate system.
Conclusion
The X post by Christos Vournas promotes his alternative model, the "Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon," which challenges the greenhouse effect's role in planetary temperatures. It suggests Earth's higher temperature is due to faster rotation and higher specific heat capacity, with calculations closely matching observed data. However, this view is controversial, not peer-reviewed, and lacks mainstream scientific acceptance, residing primarily on his blog and supportive platforms. For a balanced understanding, it is essential to consider both Vournas's perspective and the established climate science framework.
Key Citations
- The Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon
- How to Calculate Planetary Temperatures
- Beware Energy Balance Cartoons
- Earth's energy budget
- The Earth-Atmosphere Energy Balance
- Christos Vournas's X post
1 post
24 web pages
Quote
Christos Vournas
@CVournas44116
·
May 18
The NEW Planetary Surface Radiative Energy Bala... https://cristos-vournas.com/blog/the-new-planetary-surface-radiative-energy-balance…
- Christos Vournas, a mechanical engineer, proposes in his May 18, 2025, X post that Earth's higher average temperature (288K) compared to the Moon's (220K) results from Earth's faster rotation (29.5 times faster) and higher specific heat capacity (water at 1 cal/gr°C vs. lunar regolith at 0.19 cal/gr°C), challenging the traditional greenhouse effect model.
- His "Planet Surface Rotational Warming Phenomenon" model uses a formula incorporating rotation rate, specific heat, and a Solar Irradiation Accepting Factor (Φ = 0.47 for smooth surfaces like Earth), predicting Earth's temperature at 287.74K, closely matching the observed 288K without relying on atmospheric warming.
- Vournas's theory lacks peer-reviewed support and contradicts mainstream climate science, which attributes Earth's 33°C warming above its effective temperature (255K) to greenhouse gases, as evidenced by extensive research like NOAA's Earth-Atmosphere Energy Balance studies.