KCVS -Global Climate Change

Finding new ways to see the world

Global Climate Change

Climate Change is arguably one of the most vital connections between the scientific community and the general public. The science is complex and the data can often appear both bewildering and contradictory. We are currently working on a suite of visualizations that help explore and explain many aspects of climate change.

The Science of Climate Change

The following visualizations help explain some underlying science and chemistry of processes which contribute to climate change.

Collisional Heating by CO₂ in the Atmosphere:

This animation illustrates the absorption of infrared radiation by CO₂ in the troposphere and the collisional loss of this absorbed energy to surrounding N₂ and O₂ molecules. In this animation the user can sweep through a region of the IR spectrum and excite some of the vibrational modes of CO₂. A simple (purely qualitative) thermometer illustrates the rise in temperature of the gas as collisional de-excitation occurs.
Run Applet

CFCs in the Atmosphere

The behaviour of CFCs is dependent on both the wavelength of radiation as well as position of the molecule in the atmosphere. In this visualization the user can investigate the various interaction modes of a CFC molecule with electromagnetic radiation across the entire spectrum. The molecule can be rotated in 3D to better view the vibration induced by interaction with light.
Run Applet

Structure of the Atmosphere

Understanding the structure of the atmosphere is critical in understanding where and how global warming occurs. This visualization illustrates the major layers in the atmosphere and identifies a number of key characteristics and defining attributes of each layer.
Run Applet

Infrared Spectral Windows

Greenhouse gases produce spectral features in the infrared portion of the spectrum. One area of concern is the rapidly closing "IR window" -a phenomenon which occurs because different greenhouse gases absorb in different parts of the IR window. This has potentially serious consequences for global warming. The applet shows how the IR signatures of a number of greenhouse gases collectively "close" the window.
Run Applet

Ice-Core Analysis

This is a large applet that introduces the user to the fascinating and complex world of ice-core analysis. Please be patient - download will take a few moments.
Run Applet

Visualizing Global Climate Change

The following applets show results of global climate models and suggest life-style and geopolitical actions that can be taken.

This is an interactive visualization of global climate parameters based on a model generated using Columbia University's EdGCM modeling program. The applet allows the user to compare annual surface temperatures and other climate variables at different locations on the earth for the period 1950 - 2100. It is based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios.
Run Applet

Climate Change Questionnaire

This is an interactive questionnaire that asks students to make a number of life-style choices. The outcome of their choices then determine which IPCC scenario most closely fits these choices. The student will then be invited to explore this choice using an applet very similar to the global climate change applet shown above. Run Applet

Global Carbon Dioxide Footprint and Model

The CO₂ footprint model is a geopolitical treatment of the problem of global increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases. The user can adjust the per capita emissions from various regions of the globe and then run a 4-box model of CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere over the next 150 years. In this model a 4-way interaction between biosphere, atmosphere, mid-ocean and deep-ocean is calculated. This will help underscore the need to understand CO₂ and other greenhouse gases as long-term issues.
Run Applet

Planetary Climates: A Delicate Balance

Climate is regulated by the delicate balance of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic radiation. This applet first explores the climatic condition of various planets, focusing on Mars, Venus, and Earth. The second portion of this applet, the "Build a Planet" simulator, allows a user to alter the four factors that regulate climate: albedo, greenhouse effect, distance from the sun, and surface temperature.
Run Applet