Teacher Presenentation: Climate Change: The Greenhouse Effect
Virtual Science Teac
Created on December 19, 2022
Over 30 million people build interactive content in Genially.
Check out what others have designed:
SLYCE DECK
Personalized
LET’S GO TO LONDON!
Personalized
ENERGY KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
Personalized
HUMAN AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT KEY
Personalized
CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ART KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
Personalized
DOWNFALLL OF ARAB RULE IN AL-ANDALUS
Personalized
ABOUT THE EEA GRANTS AND NORWAY
Personalized
Transcript
Climate Change
Climate Change Challenge
The Greenhouse Effect
This Virtual Science Teachers interactive is a work in progress. Feel free to use it, but be sure to come back later when it is complete too! Suzanne
This interactive is brought to you by Virtual Science Teachers. Copyright Virtual Science Teachers 2022
The Greenhouse Effect
Begin
Presentation Version
Select here for access to student version from Virtual Science Teachers website.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
As more CO2 and other greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere, the Earth gets warmer.Evidence that the Earth is warming can clearly be seen in Greenland...WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF ICE!
The sun is mostly made up of hydrogen atoms.
Click on the sun.
This lesson on the greenhouse effect is all about energy...energy that comes from the sun.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
As more CO2 and other greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere, the Earth gets warmer.Evidence that the Earth is warming can clearly be seen in Greenland...WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF ICE!
Check
Not quite. Try again.
- energy
- redstone
- sugar
Continue
Under a lot of pressure in the core of the sun, hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium atoms.
A lot of energy is released as a result of these fusion reactions!
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
As more CO2 and other greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere, the Earth gets warmer.Evidence that the Earth is warming can clearly be seen in Greenland...WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF ICE!
Some of that energy travels as sunlight about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) all the way to Earth!
93 million miles
Click on the Earth
Check
Not quite. Try again.
- 8 minutes
- 8 seconds
- 8 hours
- 8 days
Continue
It takes sunlight about 8 minutesto make that93 million mile journey all the way to Earth.
The sunlight provides the energy needed for all life on Earth to live and grow.
Click on the plant.
Sunlight also warms the Earth, keeping it from completely freezing over.
Click on that amazing ball of life-enabling energy.
Oh...and we can't forget that the atmosphere also plays a huge role in keeping the Earth at just the right temperatures that life can thrive.
Click on the atmosphere.
The atmosphere (air) is made of about 78% nitrogen gas (N2), 21% oxygen gas (O2), and 1% argon gas.
Click on one of the Nitrogen Gas (N2) molecules.
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Ar
What is an atmosphere?What is the atmosphere made of?
The atmosphere also contains a very tiny percentage of other gases, such as methane, water vapor, and carbon dioxide.
Click on the carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule.
sunlight
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
O
O
O
O
N
N
N
N
N
N
O
O
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
O
O
O
O
N
N
N
N
N
N
O
O
Ar
O
O
C
H
H
O
H
C
H
H
H
Ooh ooh! Studying the composition of the atmosphere (air) is a perfect time to use a pie chart!
Drag the labels so they correctly show the composition of air on the pie chart. When the labels are correctly placed, a message will appear.
The Composition of Air
Well done! Click here.
Oxygen Gas (O2)20.95%
Argon Gas (Ar)0.93%
0.03% Other Gases to include Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Methane (CH4)
Nitrogen Gas (N2)78.09%
Ar
H
C
H
H
H
O
O
C
N
N
O
O
Pie charts are useful when comparing parts of a whole.
The gases that make up the atmosphere create the perfect blanket for Earth. They absorb and reflect just the right amounts of energy for life to thrive.
Click on the arrow that represents sunlight reflecting off Earth's atmosphere.
Now let's explore what happens to sunlight that enters Earth's atmosphere!
Click on one of the the arrows that represents sunlight that enters Earth's atmosphere.
About 29% of sunlight reflects off the atmosphere and back into space.
*NASA
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Click on a part of the diagram that represents incoming sunlight energy that heats the Earth.
This image shows sunlight that enters the atmosphere and heats the Earth.
sunlight
infrared waves
This gif was made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Click on a part of the diagram that represents infrared waves.
The sunight warms the surface of the Earth.As a result of getting warmer, the Earth emits energy in the form of infrared waves (also called infrared radiation).
sunlight
infrared waves
This gif was made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Click on a part of the diagram that represents infrared energy leaving Earth's atmosphere.
Some molecules in the atmosphere let infrared waves just pass on by.
sunlight
infrared waves
This gif was made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Click on a part of the diagram that represents infrared energy that gets trapped within Earth's atmosphere.
sunlight
infrared waves
This gif was made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Some molecules in the atmosphere prevent the infrared waves from escaping. This is similar to how the glass in a greenhouse keeps the inside of the greenhouse warm, even when it's cold outside.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Play with this PhET simulation to better understand how infrared waves (also called infrared radiation) interact with molecules in the atmosphere.
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Click here after using the simulation for a good bit.
Turn on
Compare molecules
Focus on infrared waves because that is the kind that the Earth radiates when it is warmed.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Play with this PhET simulation to better understand how infrared energy interacts with molecules in the atmosphere.
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
The most abundant molecules in the atmosphere, nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2), do not absorb infrared radiation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are known as greenhouse gases because they absorb and re-infrared radiation.
Check
Not quite. Try again.
- do not absorb
- absorb and re-emit
- eat
- absorb and re-emit
- do not absorb
- eat
Turn on
Compare molecules
Continue
Focus on infrared energy becasue that is the kind that the Earth radiates as heat.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Click on an image that represents life.
You got it! Greenhouse gases, like CO2, asborb and re-emit infrared energy that would otherwise go out into space.This helps keep the Earth warm enough for life to thrive.
sunlight
infrared waves
This gif was made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Just like the glass walls and rooftrap within a greenhouse...
some gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat that keeps the Earth warm.This process of trapping heat within the atmosphere is called the greenhouse effect.
Check
- heat
- plants
- candy
- atmosphere
- trees
- clouds
- greenhouse
- heating
- solar
Not quite. Try again.
Continue
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Click on the image that shows all of the infrared radiation escaping Earth's atmosphere.
High concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases
These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
These three images simulate what happens to infrared radiation withvarying levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Medium concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases
No greenhouse gases
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Your response is not correct. Look at the images (and their labels) closely and try again.
Your response is not correct. Look at the images (and their labels) closely and try again.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Earth's temperature would be _________ if there were no greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
High concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases
These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
Yes! In the first image, all of the infrared radiation leaves Earth's atmosphere.
Medium concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases
No greenhouse gases
much higher
much lower
about the same
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Your response is not correct. Take a look at the thermometer in each image to help you answer this question.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Earth's temperature would be _________ if there were no greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
High concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases
These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
That's correct. The Earth would be MUCH colder without greenhouse gases.What happens if the concentration of greenhouse gases increases to high levels?
Medium concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases
No greenhouse gases
much higher
much lower
about the same
Click on the image that shows the most infrared radiationgetting trapped in Earth's atmosphere.
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Your response is not correct. Look at the images (and their labels) closely and try again.
Your response is not correct. Look at the images (and their labels) closely and try again.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
Earth's temperature _________ as greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere.
High concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases
These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
You got it. The third image shows the most infrared radiation being trapped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Medium concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases
No geenhouse gases
decreases
does not change
Click on the image that shows all of the infrared energy escaping Earth's atmosphere.
increases
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
Your response is not correct. Take a look at the thermometer in each image to help you answer this question.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
You got it! Earth's temperature increases as greenhouse gases, such as CO2, are added to the atmosphere.
Click on the image that shows all of the infrared energy escaping Earth's atmosphere.
For the past 120 years, humans have been adding huge amounts of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal).
So, what's happening to the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere these days?
Click on the car exhaust.
Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.
These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!
You got it! Earth's temperature increases as greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere.
Check
Not quite. Try again.
- 100
- 315
- 30
- 317
- 100
- 15
- 3,000
- 417
- 300
- 205
- 3,000
Click on the image that shows all of the infrared energy escaping Earth's atmosphere.
Continue
For the past 120 years, humans have been adding huge amounts of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal).
In the year 1960, about 317 of every 1 million particles in the atmosphere were carbon dioxide.
Climate.gov
In the year 2021, about 417 of every 1 million particles were carbon dioxide.
Between the years 1960 and 2021, the amount of carbon dioxide in the air increased by about 100 parts per million.
As a result of increased levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, the temperature of the Earth has been on the rise.
Click on the point of the graph that corresponds to the warmest year between 1880 and 2020.
Data source: NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). Credit: NASA/GISS
Data source: NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). Credit: NASA/GISS
The y-axis "Temperature Anomaly" values represent how much warmer or cooler Earth's surface was compared to the average temperature between 1951 and 1980.
warm
Enter the code word .
lowercase letters only
To summarize what you've covered in this interactive, drag the correct words into the paragraph below. When you have all the words in the right spots, you you will be provided the code word.
This video was created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
CONTINUE
GOOD JOB DUDER HEAD.You should go playoutside now.
Way to go! You've completed this interactive about the greenhouse effect. Maybe one day you'll be a scientist that studies our changing climate.
This feature is disabled for the teacher presentation.