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Logo Trop1 (1)

Greenhouse Gases and Infrared Radiation

Model/Simulator

A model/simulator to understand the effect of greenhouse gases on outgoing energy flux, and to compare the absorption of infrared radiation by various greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapour.

Students will modify various parameters such as the concentrations of greenhouse gases, temperature, atmospheric settings, and cloud settings to observe and understand the emission and absorption of infrared radiation in the atmosphere. They will compare the effects of different greenhouse gases.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. Compare the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the greenhouse effect of methane (CH4) in the atmosphere. What is the effect of doubling the concentrations of atmospheric CO2 and CH4?
  2. What are the wavelengths at which methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) absorb infrared radiation? Explain the band saturation effect.
About Tool
Tool NameMODTRAN Infrared Light in the Atmosphere
DisciplineEarth Sciences
Topic(s) in DisciplineThe Greenhouse Effect, Atmosphere, Infrared Radiation 
Climate TopicClimate and the Atmosphere, Greenhouse Effect 
Type of toolModel/Simulator
Grade LevelUndergraduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish
Translation     –
Developed byDavid Archer
Hosted atThe University of Chicago
Link
AccessOnline
Computer SkillsIntermediate

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TROP ICSU is a project of the International Union of Biological Sciences and Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Climate Change, FLAME University.

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