Model/Simulator: Greenhouse Gases and Infrared Radiation

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 vapor.

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 the Tool

Tool Name MODTRAN Infrared Light in the Atmosphere
Discipline Earth Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Greenhouse effect of Earth’s atmospheric gases
Climate Topic Climate and the Atmosphere, The Greenhouse Effect
Type of Tool Model/Simulator
Grade Level Undergraduate
Location Global
Language English
Translation
Developed by David Archer
Hosted at The University of Chicago
Link http://climatemodels.uchicago.edu/modtran/modtran.doc.html
Access Online
Computer Skills Intermediate

ModTran1

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