Energy balance of atmosphere and surface (vertical 1-dimensional)

Energy held by atmosphere (expressed in terms of energy per unit mass)
Potential energy ... g z [g: acceleration of gravity z: height]
Internal energy
"sensible heat" ... C_v T [C_v: specific heat capacity (at constant volume) T: absolute temperature]
"latent heat" ... L q [L: latent heat of vaporization per unit mass of water; q: specific humidity]
kinetic energy ... (1/2) v^2 [v: wind velocity] (relatively small term)
Energy exchange at "top-of-atmosphere" ... radiation only
Solar (short wave) radiation ... visible and near infra-red
Terrestrial (long wave) radiation ... infra-red
Energy exchange at the surface of land or ocean ... Rnet = H + L E + G
(up)(down): direction of positive values in our convention
Energy fluxes above the surface
Rnet(down): net radiation (solar+terrestrial, downward - upward)
H(up): sensible heat flux to atmosphere (conduction -> turbulent)
L E(up): latent heat flux due to evaporation (E: vapor mass flux)
Energy flux below the surface
G(down): conduction -> turbulent transfer if in water