Greenhouse Effect

Welcome to Greenhouse Effect. It has 3 interactive screens that you can explore. Choose a screen to start exploring.

  1. Explore greenhouse effect with wave representation.

  2. Explore greenhouse effect with photon representation.

  3. Experiment with infrared absorbing layers in the atmosphere.

Waves Screen, Greenhouse Effect

The Waves Screen changes as you play with it. It has a Play Area and a Control Area.

The Play Area is an observation window showing a scene extending from the surface of the Earth to outer space. Experiment with the greenhouse gas concentration or explore and compare historical time periods. It also has controls to add a cloud and measure the energy balance.

The Control Area has options for displaying the surface temperature of Earth. You can pause the action that happens in the observation window.

Currently, no sunlight in observation window. Moderate levels of greenhouse gases in atmosphere. The sky is cloudy.

Start sunlight to play.

If needed, check out keyboard shortcuts under Sim Resources.

Play Area

Observation Window

Start sunlight to begin observations.

  • The sunlight is off.
  • Moderate levels of greenhouse gases in atmosphere.
  • The sky is cloudy.
  • Sunlight waves travel from space to surface. Cloud reflects some sunlight back into space.
  • The surface temperature is -28.1 degrees Celsius.

Energy Balance

No flow of energy. Start sunlight to explore energy balance.

Energy Legend

In observation window:

  • Sunlight radiation: yellow waves, wavelength shorter than infrared
  • Infrared radiation: red waves, wavelength longer than sunlight

Greenhouse Gas Exploration Controls

Adjust amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Time Period

Compare greenhouse gas levels at different historical time periods.

Experiment Mode

Explore a wide range of concentrations from none to lots or zoom in to compare historical time periods.

  • Kelvin
  • degrees Celsius
  • degrees Fahrenheit

Temperature Units

Select temperature units.

Measure incoming and outgoing energy at top of atmosphere.

Experiment with cloudy sky.

Control Area

Measure Earth’s surface temperature.

Describe temperature on a scale.

Timing Controls

Pause action in observation window.

Photons Screen, Greenhouse Effect

The Photons Screen changes as you play with it. It has a Play Area and a Control Area.

The Play Area is an observation window showing a scene extending from the surface of the Earth to outer space. Experiment with the greenhouse gas concentration or explore and compare historical time periods. It also has controls to add a cloud and measure the energy balance or energy flux.

The Control Area has options for displaying the surface temperature of Earth. You can control how fast the action happens in the observation window including buttons to pause and step forward.

Currently, no sunlight in observation window. Moderate levels of greenhouse gases in atmosphere. The sky is cloudy.

Start sunlight to play.

If needed, check out keyboard shortcuts under Sim Resources.

Play Area

Observation Window

Start sunlight to begin observations.

  • The sunlight is off.

  • Moderate levels of greenhouse gases in atmosphere.

    • Carbon dioxide 277 parts per million
    • Methane 694 parts per billion
    • Nitrous oxide 271 parts per billion
  • The sky is cloudy.
  • Sunlight photons travel from space to surface. Cloud reflects some sunlight back into space.
  • Higher density of infrared photons near surface.
  • The surface temperature is -28.1 degrees Celsius.

Energy Balance

No flow of energy. Start sunlight to explore energy balance.

Energy Flux

at very low altitude, no incoming sunlight and no outgoing sunlight. no outgoing infrared and no incoming infrared.

Energy Legend

In observation window:

  • Sunlight radiation: yellow photons
  • Infrared radiation: red photons

Greenhouse Gas Exploration Controls

Adjust amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Time Period

Compare greenhouse gas levels at different historical time periods.

Experiment Mode

Explore a wide range of concentrations from none to lots or zoom in to compare historical time periods.

  • Kelvin
  • degrees Celsius
  • degrees Fahrenheit

Temperature Units

Select temperature units.

Measure incoming and outgoing energy at top of atmosphere.

Measure incoming and outgoing energy throughout atmosphere.

Measure energy flux at different altitudes.

Experiment with cloudy sky.

Control Area

Measure Earth’s surface temperature.

Displays more photons in observation window.

Timing Controls

Pause action in observation window for closer observations or to step forward little by little.

Sim Speeds

For slower observations play sim on slow speed.

Layer Model Screen, Greenhouse Effect

The Layer Model Screen changes as you play with it. It has a Play Area and a Control Area.

The Play Area is an observation window showing a scene extending from the surface of the Earth to outer space. It has controls to adjust the solar intensity, surface albedo, and to add infrared absorbing layers to the atmosphere. It also has controls to measure the energy balance and energy flux.

The Control Area has options for changing the temperature units. You can control how fast the action happens in the observation window including buttons to pause and step forward.

Currently, 3 infrared absorbing layers in atmosphere. Earth's surface temperature is 59.7 degrees Celsius.

Start sunlight to play.

If needed, check out keyboard shortcuts under Sim Resources.

Play Area

Observation Window

Start sunlight to begin observations.

  • The sunlight is on.
  • 3 infrared absorbing layers in atmosphere.
  • Sunlight photons travel from space to surface, passing through layers. Surface reflects 30% of sunlight back into space.
  • Somewhat high amount of infrared photons emit from surface and travel to space. All infrared photons are absorbed by layers and re-emitted randomly up or down.
  • Higher density of infrared photons near surface.
  • The surface temperature is 59.7 degrees Celsius.
  • Layer 1 temperature is 31.1 degrees Celsius.
  • Layer 2 temperature is -5.1 degrees Celsius.
  • Layer 3 temperature is -49.2 degrees Celsius.

Energy Balance

Outgoing energy is greater than incoming energy at top of atmosphere, net energy outflow to space.

Energy Flux

at very low altitude, somewhat high incoming sunlight and low outgoing sunlight. exceptionally high outgoing infrared and high incoming infrared.

Energy Legend

In observation window:

  • Sunlight radiation: yellow photons
  • Infrared radiation: red photons

Sunlight Controls

same as our Sun

Set intensity of incoming sunlight.

0.3

Set reflectance of Earth’s surface.

Infrared Controls

3

Add or remove infrared absorbing layers from atmosphere.

100%

Set infrared absorbance of all layers.

Measure Earth’s surface temperature.

Measure Layer 1 temperature.

Measure Layer 2 temperature.

Measure Layer 3 temperature.

Measure incoming and outgoing energy at top of atmosphere.

Measure incoming and outgoing energy throughout atmosphere.

Measure energy flux at different altitudes.

Control Area

Adjust visual range.

Adjust visual range.

Temperature Units

Select temperature units.

Displays more photons in observation window.

Timing Controls

Pause action in observation window for closer observations or to step forward little by little.

Sim Speeds

For slower observations play sim on slow speed.

Sim Screens

  1. Go to Home Screen.

  2. Explore greenhouse effect with wave representation.

  3. Explore greenhouse effect with photon representation.

  4. Experiment with infrared absorbing layers in the atmosphere.

Sim Resources