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 […]
Radiation Balance and the Climate of a Planet
Radiation Balance and the Climate of a Planet Model/Simulation A Model/Simulation to learn about the factors that influence the climate of a planet. Students will learn about radiation balance and the climate of different planets. They will vary parameters such as albedo, surface temperature, and distance from the Sun to observe the corresponding effects on […]
The Greenhouse Effect of the Atmosphere
The Greenhouse Effect of the Atmosphere Video A video micro-lecture that discusses Earth’s energy balance and the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere. Students will learn how to determine the surface temperature of planet Earth with no atmosphere and with 1- and 2-layer atmosphere. They will also understand the greenhouse effect of the Earth’s atmosphere. Use […]
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 […]
Physics of Scattering and Greenhouse Gases
Physics of Scattering and Greenhouse Gases Video Two video lectures titled, ‘Physics of scattering, emission and absorption’ from the e-learning course, ‘Introduction to Atmospheric Science’ developed by C Balaji, IIT Madras, for National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), India. These video lectures explain the behaviour of Earth’s atmosphere due to interaction between gases and […]
Planck’s Law and Earth’s Climate
Planck’s Law and Earth’s Climate Video A video lecture titled, ‘Planck’s distribution and Inverse square law’ from the e-learning course, ‘Introduction to Atmospheric Science’ developed by C Balaji, IIT Madras, for National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), India. These video lecture gives a detailed explanation about Planck’s Law for black body distribution. It also […]
General Circulation Models of Climate
General Circulation Models of Climate Reading A reading titled ‘General Circulation Models of Climate’ by Spencer Weart hosted on the website of Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics. This reading is a supplement to the book titled, ‘The Discovery of Global Warming’ by Spencer Weart. It summarises the complexity of Earth System […]
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 […]
Radiative Transfer
Radiative Transfer Video Two video lectures titled, ‘Radiative Transfer Equation’ from the e-learning course, ‘Introduction to Atmospheric Science’ developed by C Balaji, IIT Madras, for National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), India. These video lectures discuss how to calculate radiative transfer equation and further discuss its importance in atmospheric sciences, particularly in satellite remote […]