Greenhouse Effect Simulation Lab
For this lab, we’ll think of a photon as an “energy particle”. The official definition is
much more complicated, but thinking of it this way works. In this investigation, you
have sunlight photons (visible light) and infrared photons (heat).
What is CO2? __________________________________________________
What is CH4? __________________________________________________
What is N2O? __________________________________________________
Go to: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/greenhouse
Ice Age
1. Click on the “Ice Age” button and record the minimum temperature. ______
2. Record amounts of CO2 _____ CH4 _____ N2O _____
3. What happens to the sunlight photons as they hit the ground?
4. Are all of the sunlight photons being reflected back into space?
5. What happens to the temperature when you add clouds?
6. How are the photons affected by adding clouds?
1750
7. Click on the “1750” button and record the minimum temperature. _______
8. Record amounts of CO2 _____ CH4 _____ N2O _____
9. What happens to the sunlight photons as they hit the ground?
10. Are all of the sunlight photons being reflected back into space?
11. What happens to the temperature when you add clouds?
12. How are the photons affected by adding clouds?
Today
13. Click on the “Today” button and record the minimum temperature. _______
14. Record amounts of CO2 _____ CH4 _____ N2O _____
15. What happens to the sunlight photons as they hit the ground?
16. Are all of the sunlight photons being reflected back into space?
17. What happens to the temperature when you add clouds?
18. How are the photons affected by adding clouds?
________________________________________________________________________
1.
Describe how the Greenhouse Gases affected Earth’s atmosphere during the Ice
Age, the year 1750 and Today.
2.
What would happen if there were no Greenhouse gases? _______ (Adjust the
Greenhouse Gas Concentration Level to None.)
3.
What would happen if Greenhouse gases increase? ________ (Adjust the
Greenhouse Gas Concentration Level to Lots.)
4.
Identify some natural or human processes that might increase or decrease the
amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. (You may need to do outside
research for this one)
5.
The diagram below details climate change over the past 12,000 years.
Summarize how temperatures have changed. How does this historical record
match with what you discovered during the lab? (*1750 = The Little Ice Age)