| This model/simulator shows the greenhouse effect of the Earth’s atmosphere and planetary energy balance of incoming solar radiation and outgoing radiation from the planet. Students/learners are presented with a model Earth having two atmospheric layers and they of can manipulate “the absorptivity/emissivity of each atmospheric layer, the amount of convective heat flux transferred at each level, the intensity of solar radiation, and the albedo of the planet and determine the resulting temperature of the surface and each layer of the atmosphere as well as the magnitude of each heat transfer.” |
Global Ocean Conveyor Belt
This laboratory activity helps students understand the great ocean conveyor belt by exploring how various factors and processes (such as changes in the temperature and density of ocean water) influence the direction of ocean currents. Further, students analyze and determine the effect of the ocean conveyor belt on global climate.
Feeling the Heat
This activity allows students to learn and understand the urban heat island effect by measuring temperatures in an area, collating data and analyzing the data. Students use available temperature data for a specific location (Los Angeles) to observe and analyze the occurrence of heat waves.
Planetary Energy Balance
The interactive simulations in this tool help students understand blackbody radiation and the effect of albedo on the temperature of a planet.
Hadley Circulation using NASA Merra Reanalysis Model
This laboratory activity helps students to understand radiation, heat transport, convection, and energy/mass conservation by interpreting and mapping the Hadley circulation with the help of data from a reanalysis model. Students will learn about the Hadley cell and Hadley circulation, and their influence on climate.
Infrared Spectral Windows
This interactive visualization helps students to learn about the IR spectra of different greenhouse gases, observe the amount of IR radiation absorbed by greenhouse gases, and to understand the resulting influence on the Earth’s climate.
