The Greenhouse Effect3.04

We hear about the greenhouse effect all the time, but many of us have not taken the time to understand how it works. While it is not the primary reason for warming in real greenhouses, the effect needs to be understood by everyone in the context of our runaway global warming.The Greenhouse Effect is a Java-based program that should help you understand and explain how this mechanism works. It comes with three simulations that illustrate various concepts in an accessible manner.

View a simulation of the greenhouse effect in our atmosphere

The greenhouse effect is mostly controlled by the presence of gases in our atmosphere that can absorb and emit infrared radiation. An increase in their concentration causes more infrared radiation from the planet’s surface to be retained in the atmosphere.Using the first simulation, you can increase or decrease the concentration of greenhouse gases manually, as well as set them to certain historical level. You can also add clouds to assess how they influence the temperature.

See how multiple layers of glass affect warming at the surface

Even though the effect is named after them, real greenhouses are warmed primarily by minimizing convective cooling rather than through radiative transfer, which is the main mechanism at work in the case of the greenhouse effect.Nevertheless, the second simulation can still be useful for understanding how multiple glass layers can prevent infrared radiation from escaping.

Analyze the photon absorption of various molecules

The final simulation helps you understand how effective certain molecules are at absorbing and reflecting radiation. It is a simplified simulation, of course, as each of these molecules interacts with radiation differently at specific wavelengths.All in all, The Greenhouse Effect is a useful simulation for those who want to learn more about this mechanism or teach it to others. It can help you get a basic understanding of the greenhouse effect, but it presents a very simplified version of the facts and should only serve as an introduction to the subject.