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Planet Emission Temperature Climate ModelUse the interactive simple climate model on this page to answer the following questions. If you do not understand the terms used in the question, you might need to go to the alcove entrance or review previous material. Instructions on using the model are given below. QUESTIONS
When you are finished, you can experiment with another simplified climate model, one that has an atmosphere.
You control two properties of a planet: albedo and its distance from the Sun. The albedo is the ratio of the energy (radiation) reflected by an object to the energy incident upon it. You also control the energy output of the sun. As you vary these parameters the emission temperature of the planet changes and is plotted on a graph as a function of distance from the Sun. The temperature axis can be plotted as degrees Kelvin (K), Celsius (C), or Fahrenheit (F). The emission temperature of the nine planets is plotted with the following key: Mercury (M), Venus (V), Earth (E) Mars (M), Jupiter (J), Saturn (S), Uranus (U), Neptune (N) and Pluto (P). Both axes can be plotted on a linear or logarithmic scale, you decide. The mathematics of the model are also available. |