Aerosols & Shipping

Build a Planet

The sun and the Earth both emit energy in different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Answer the following questions based on the emission spectrum of the Sun and Earth, and the electromagnetic spectrum found below.^4,5

1. Where in the electromagnetic spectrum is the peak of the sun’s energy given off?
2. What about for Earth?

Using the KCVS Build a Planet tool, complete the below activities and answer a few questions.

1. Move the albedo slider to 0.75. What happens to the energy balance? Re-establish that balance by adjusting the surface temperature slider. What is the resulting temperature required to balance the energy input and output? Is it lower or higher than the previous surface temperature? Based on your answer, decide whether albedo is a positive or negative radiative forcer.
2. Now onto the next factor, the greenhouse effect. Reset the visualization and then move the greenhouse effect slider to 0.75. What happens to the energy balance? Again, adjust just the surface temperature slider to re-establish the energy balance on our planet. What is the resulting temperature required to balance the energy input and output? Is it lower or higher than the previous surface temperature? Based on your answer, decide whether the greenhouse effect is a positive or negative radiative forcer.