A video micro-lecture that discusses Earth’s energy balance and the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere.
Video: The Greenhouse Effect of the Atmosphere
Reading: Simple Atmospheric Model
A reading that introduces a single-layer atmosphere model, which is based on the emissivity of thermal radiation, to explain atmospheric warming.
Reading: Planetary Temperatures
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.
Reading: Atmospheric Dynamics and Hadley Cells
A reading that discusses the use of the law of conservation of angular momentum to explain the extent of Hadley cells.
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: The Coriolis Effect
A hands-on classroom/laboratory activity to learn about the Coriolis Effect.
Visualization: Blackbody Spectrum
A visualization and associated activity to explain how Planck’s Law can be used to plot blackbody curves of objects with different temperatures, the relationship between temperature and peak wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, and the greenhouse effect of Earth’s atmosphere.
Reading: Hadley Circulation
A reading to learn about the Hadley Cell and a simple model for the Hadley Circulation, using the law of conservation of angular momentum.
Model/Simulator: Modeling Planetary Energy Balance
A model/simulator to learn about vertical energy (heat) transfer in the Earth’s system and planetary energy balance.
Milankovitch Orbital Data Viewer
This model/simulator shows the relationship between changes in Earth’s climate due to variations in the solar energy received by the planet over geological time scales. It shows that over long timescales ice age cycles (Milankovitch cycles) have occurred on earth due to changes in the orbital parameters (obliquity, precession, and eccentricity).
Laboratory Activity: Heat Transport and Ocean Circulation
A laboratory activity to learn about heat transport through the Earth’s oceans (the great ocean conveyor belt) and the effects of this ocean conveyor belt on global climate.
Laboratory Activity: Urban Heat Island
A laboratory activity to learn about the urban heat island effect and heat waves.
Visualization: Blackbody Radiation and Planetary Temperatures
A visualization 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.
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Hadley Circulation—Heat Transport in the Atmosphere
A classroom/laboratory activity to learn about radiation, heat transport, convection, and energy/mass conservation by interpreting and mapping the Hadley Circulation.
Video: Rising Sea Surface Temperature and Hurricane Intensity
A video to learn about hurricanes as heat engines, and the possible effects of increasing sea surface temperature on the intensity and frequency of hurricanes.
Visualization: Infrared Spectra of Greenhouse Gases
A visualization to learn about the infrared (IR) spectra of different greenhouse gases and the effect of greenhouse gases on the Earth’s climate.