Greenhouse Effect Gizmo
Draw conclusions: The influence of greenhouse gases on temperature is called the greenhouse effect. Based on what you have seen, how do greenhouse gases affect the heat flow into and out of Earth's atmosphere?
Greenhouse gases do not affect the heat flow into the Earth's atmosphere, but they delay or block the heat flow out of the atmosphere. As the percentage of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere increases, the amount of heat that escapes into space decreases.
Click Play, and this time observe the GRAPH tab as you change the Greenhouse gases. What do you notice?
Heat flow in stays the same always, heat flow out changes depending on where the Greenhouse gases slider is, and the temperature increases as time goes on.
What do you notice when you get into a car that has been sitting in the Sun for a while?
The car seats and air inside the car are really hot.
How would things be different if the car's windows were left open?
The car would still be a bit warm because the wind and air from the outside is cooling the car and circulating air.
Why is the inside of the car so hot?
The Sun heats up the car as time goes on and the car absorbs the heat.
At what time of day is heat flow into the atmosphere (Hin) greatest?
12:00 PM
At what time of day is heat flow into the atmosphere (Hin) least?
1:00-6:00 AM
Now set the Greenhouse gases to 100% and let the simulation run for a while. How does a maximum amount of greenhouse gas affect the temperature?
As time goes on, the temperature gets hotter and hotter everyday.
Does heat flow out of the atmosphere (Hout) change during a day?
No
Observe: Select the BAR CHART tab and click Play. After about 24 simulated hours, click Pause. What do you notice about the heat flow into and out of Earth's atmosphere?
The heat flow out stays consistent the entire 24 hours, while the heat flow in goes up a lot during the day.
Click Play and view the BAR CHART tab. The temperature will go up and down every day, but try to look at the overall trend. What happens to the temperature over time?
The temperature stays at 0 or below consistently.
Extend your thinking: Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide have risen dramatically in the past century. Most scientists agree that this has begun to result in global warming, a slow increase in average temperature worldwide. What are the possible consequences of global warming?
There are many possible consequences of global warming. Hotter summers and milder winters could be caused by global warming as the Earth slowly heats up. Climate patterns worldwide could change because global warming messes it up. Ice-caps could melt causing rising sea levels.
Select the BAR CHART tab, and click Play. While the simulation is playing, move the Greenhouse gases slider back and forth. What do you notice?
There is a lot more fog/gas in the air as the Greenhouses gases slider goes up.
