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Modeling Earth's Energy Balance

Kirsten Menking, Vassar College, Kirsten Menking, On the Cutting Edge/SERC

In this activity, learners use the STELLA box modeling software to determine Earth's temperature based on incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation. Starting with a simple black body model, the exercise gradually adds complexity by incorporating albedo, then a 1-layer atmosphere, then a 2-layer atmosphere, and finally a complex atmosphere with latent and sensible heat fluxes. With each step, students compare the modeled surface temperature to Earth's actual surface temperature, thereby providing a check on how well each increasingly complex model captures the physics of the actual system.

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Notes from our reviewers

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  • This is an upper-level activity. As such, it requires some prerequisite knowledge of modeling. Familiarity with STELLA modeling software would also be helpful.