Additional resources

If you or your students would like to explore the topic further, these additional resources will be useful.

Simulation

• (15-20 mins)
• This PhET simulation, “The Greenhouse Effect” by University of Colorado, shows the thermal effect of IR radiation in the presence of greenhouse gases. The tool can also be used to visualize the changes in vibrational modes of greenhouse gas molecules on exposure to IR light.

Reading

• (~10 mins)
• This reading, “What are the properties of a Greenhouse Gas?” by American Chemical Society, describes the properties and compares the global warming potentials of several greenhouse gases based on their IR spectra.

Laboratory activity

• (~45 mins)
• The laboratory activity, “Building a spectrometer to explore Infrared Radiation and Greenhouse Gases” by American Chemical Society, helps students to build their own IR spectrometer and to compare the thermal potential of greenhouse gases on absorption of IR radiation.