Description
๐ Explore
Investigate how Earth's atmosphere traps warmth to create a livable climate. Track sunlight and infrared photons, adjust greenhouse gas levels across history, and watch surface temperatures respond.
๐ฎ Try It
โข Press Start Sunlight and follow yellow sunlight photons reaching the surface and red infrared photons radiating back up.
โข Use the Greenhouse Gas Concentration slider or presets to compare conditions between the Ice Age and Today.
โข Turn on Surface Thermometer and toggle Cloud to see how cloud cover influences heat retention.
๐ฏ Your Mission
Set greenhouse gases to None, record the steady temperature, then increase gases to Today and observe how many degrees the surface warms.
๐ Real-World Connection
A greenhouse stays warm enough to grow tropical plants in cold climates because its transparent panels let sunlight in while trapping heat inside.