Absorption by atmospheric gases of incoming and outgoing radiation
https://cleanet.org/clean/community/activities/c4.html
https://cleanet.org/clean/community/activities/c4.html
Sara Harris, University of British Columbia, CLEAN Community Collection
Activity length: One 50-minute class period
Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»
See how this Activity supports the Next Generation Science Standards»
Grade Level
Topics
Climate Literacy
This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.
Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.
Energy Literacy
This Activity builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.
Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.
Notes From Our Reviewers
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Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- The science is somewhat abstract, so educator should visit with each group to make sure they are on the right track before the jigsaw groups switch roles.
- Students will need to have some prior knowledge of Earth's energy spectrum and greenhouse gases before effectively being able to complete this assignment.
- While written for undergraduate level, this resource can be used at high school level with modifications (e.g. background material and rubric).
- Great opportunity to address the misconception that heat is trapped and cannot escape our atmosphere.
About the Content
- This activity helps students understand how different atmospheric gases absorb electromagnetic radiation.
- Sources for graphs are cited in the teacher notes.
About the Pedagogy
- This activity uses the jigsaw technique and has students working in small groups.
- The step-by-step nature of the exercise allows students to understand a complex concept using visual data.
- Students contrast atmospheric constituents based on their absorption spectra and identify greenhouse and non-greenhouse gases based on their absorption spectra.
- Students use graphs to determine the wavelengths at which each gas absorbs radiation.
- Final step asks students to compare what they found in their theoretical studies to a curve of a radiation curve measured by a satellite. This is a great way to assess the student's understanding of the processes.
