Can insulation create heat?

[David H]

As I dropped out of science at A level my equation ability is almost zero, but we are having a discussion with those with relevant qualifications who are discussing the potential of atmospheric insulation.

As a surface loses the heat at night slower with clouds than without, they clearly present a barrier to the escaping heat, but as far as the laws of conservation of energy go (which I did do at O level) isn't it impossible however well insulated for the surface temperature from the sun to increase above what it would have been from methane, water vapour and anything else like Venus has, as that would be creating energy from nowhere?

I have a second related question I'll add next.

[wildwood]

Sorry david, I can not follow what it is that you want to know. If you mean the energy from the sun, the clouds have only a minor affect on a planet's insulation. It is the atmospheric layers that is the main insulation that prevents Earth from heating up too much and cook all plants, and at night drop to minus 50° or whatever.

Sorry if this is not what you meant.

[jake-the-peg]

I think I know what you're talking about and what you're missing.

We used to talk about the greenhouse effect more than we do these days - but that's the effect that is relevant here.

There is an effect called fleurescence where a wave is absorbed by something and re-radiated at a lower wavelength the lost energy being heat.

You see it with white T shirts glowing under UV

The Earth's atmosphere is transparent to certain wavelengths. When they hit the Earth they can be re-radiated at wavelengths that CO2 and other "greenhouse gasses" can absorb and turn into heat.

It's not a question of creating energy from nowhere it's a case of the Earth (and Venus) acting as an 'Energy trap' for energy from the Sun.

Appologies if I've misinterpreted the question though

[jomifl]

An additional effect which heats the earth is the heat generated by radioctive isotopes within the earth's core.

[jomifl]

The solidification of the earths core also provides (latent)heat.

http://www-ssc.igpp.ucla.edu/personnel/russell/papers/earth_mag

[jomifl]

To answer your question.. insulation is simply the reduction of heat loss. Good insulators feel warm to the touch because they are reducing the loss of heat which is being supplied by whatever they are touching.

[vascop]

@jomifl
Don't insulators feel warm when you touch them because they do not conduct heat away from your body? If you touch metal then it feels cold because it does conduct heat away from your body.
That's how I've always understood it anyway.

[jomifl]

vascop, Yes, I think my reply was a little ambiguous, I should have said 'whatever part of your body they are touching'