Energy balance and planetary temperatures
- Introduce the Stefan-Boltzmann Law.
- Discuss the topic of energy balance and planetary temperatures in the solar system.
- Introduce the greenhouse effect of Earth’s atmosphere.
- Explore the topic in detail through a classroom/laboratory activity and conduct the associated excecises.
- The Stefan-Boltzmann Law is a means of calculating the total flux of energy emitted by a blackbody. Explore how this law can be used to calculate surface temperatures of different blackbodies. Discuss the topic of energy balance and planetary temperatures in the solar system and stress on calculating surface temperature of planet Earth based on solar energy flux received.
A Bare Blackbody Earth
- Discuss the greenhouse effect of Earth’s atmosphere and also discuss how the surface temperature of Earth increases from a bare blackbody Earth to a blackbody Earth with a 1-layer atmosphere.
A Single Layer of IR Absorber in the Earth's Atmosphere
- Now, explore the topic in detail through the following classroom/laboratory activity, designed by David Archer, the University of Chicago.