Educational Model: Greenhouse Effect (How a Greenhouse Works)

Part of the IUMC (Innovative Educational and Methodological Complex) “Ecology: Constructing the Biosphere,” developed in 2008 by D. A. Shabanov, A. G. Kozlenko, and M. A. Kravchenko by order of the NTFP (National Training Foundation) of the Russian Federation (more about this project is in the article “Innovation and Reality”; the reasons why this complex is not used are briefly described in the column “Textbooks: Straight into the Day After Tomorrow”). This model is posted here for educational use. The model facilitates understanding of the greenhouse-effect mechanism that causes warming not only in a greenhouse, but also in Earth’s atmosphere and in the atmospheres of some other planets. The theoretical material related to the model is presented in the section Greenhouse Effect in the manual “Ecology: Biology of Interactions.” On the right side of the screen, a greenhouse is shown covered by “glass” with adjustable transparency for rays of different wavelengths. The ratio between incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation depends on the transparency of the “glass” and is changed using sliders in the tool area of the screen. Note that the Sun emits mainly visible light, while Earth emits infrared radiation. Changes in temperature inside and outside the greenhouse are monitored using thermometers located in the reference area of the screen. Instructions for working with the model are located at the very bottom of its window; if these instructions do not fit in the small window, they can be scrolled up and down using the arrows on the right. Some tasks that can be solved while working with the model: 1. Determine under what conditions the temperature in the greenhouse is higher than outside. 2. Under what conditions is the temperature in the greenhouse lower than in the surrounding environment? Is such a situation purely hypothetical, or can it be realized in practice to some degree? 3. Determine how the effects shown in this model are manifested in the Educational Model: Greenhouse Effect in the Atmosphere.