Planetary Energy Balance
Planetary Energy Balance Reset
Planetary Energy Balance
Planetary Energy Balance Teaching Module A teaching module including readings and associated links by the American Chemical Society that discusses the balance between incoming solar energy and outgoing terrestrial energy and its relationship with the surface temperature of the Earth. This overview reading can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested […]
Modeling Planetary Energy Balance
Modeling Planetary Energy Balance Model/Simulation A Model/Simulation to learn about vertical energy (heat) transfer in the Earth’s system and planetary energy balance. Students will vary parameters such as the solar constant and the planetary albedo to observe the corresponding effects on energy transfer from the Sun to the Earth and from the Earth to the […]
Introduction to Planetary Energy Balance
Introduction to Planetary Energy Balance Reading A reading by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Center for Science Education that discusses how the surface temperature of the Earth can be calculated through simple energy balance equations.This overview reading can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about planetary energy […]
Planetary Temperatures
Planetary Temperatures Reading A reading that discusses the blackbody emission properties of the Sun and planets, describes the calculation of planetary temperatures by using the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, and explains the effect of atmospheres on planetary temperatures. Students will learn to apply the Stefan-Boltzmann equation to determine the total energy flux emitted by the Sun’s surface […]
Blackbody Radiation and Planetary Temperatures
Blackbody Radiation and Planetary Temperatures Model/Simulation A Model/Simulation to understand blackbody radiation, the effects of albedo and solar brightness on the temperature of a planet, and the greenhouse effect of the Earth’s atmosphere. effect of the Earth’s atmosphere. Students will experiment with a blackbody simulation to understand how the blackbody radiation model can be used […]
TT Testing
Planetary Energy Balance Teaching Module A teaching module including readings and associated links by the American Chemical Society that discusses the balance between incoming solar energy and outgoing terrestrial energy and its relationship with the surface temperature of the Earth. This overview reading can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested […]
Infrared Spectra of Greenhouse Gases
Infrared Spectra of Greenhouse Gases Visualisation A visualisation to learn about the infrared (IR) spectra of different greenhouse gases and the effect of greenhouse gases on the Earth’s climate. Students will use the visualisation to view the IR spectra of different greenhouse gases, observe the amount of IR radiation absorbed for the current concentration of […]
Modelling the Earth’s Zonal Energy Balance
Modelling the Earth’s Zonal Energy Balance Classroom/Laboratory Activity A laboratory activity to create an energy balance model for planet Earth and obtain numerical solutions for the differential equations in the model. Students will write code (using MATLAB or Mathematica) to model the distribution of the Earth’s surface temperature in response to increasing carbon emissions in […]
Daisyworld – A Model to Explore the Gaia Hypothesis
Daisyworld – A Model to Explore the Gaia Hypothesis Model/Simulation A Model/Simulation to explore the Gaia hypothesis and the concepts of albedo and hysteresis through the example of daisies (living organisms) and their interaction with temperature (climatic factor). Students will configure the distribution of black daisies and white daisies, the albedo for each of these […]