Atmospheric Heating Animations
Compiled by Mark Francek (more info) at Central Michigan University
Find animations covering the electromagnetic spectrum, Earth's radiation balance, temperature contours, and the urban heat island.
Electromagnetic Spectrum, Wiley: The electromagnetic spectrum is used to describe radiation in terms of its wave length and is divided into three broad categories, infrared, visible, and ultraviolet. This Flash animation uses roll overs to describe how the electromagnetic spectrum impacts humans. While ultraviolet radiation exposure adversely affects human health, radiation can also be used to detect tumors and to map the earth's surface.
Earths Radiation Balance, Wiley: Find a QuickTime animation with accompanying audio that details the earth's radiation balance. The fairly detailed animation describes all the inputs and outputs of short and long wave radiation. The animation loads slowly.
Drawing Temperature Contours, University of Wisconsin: The site employs a series of Java applets to give students practice drawing temperature contours. A strength of the site is that the exercises is arranged in order of increasing difficulty.
Urban Heat Island, NASA: While this MPEG could have been better designed to show how and why urban areas absorb more heat than surrounding vegetated areas, there is value in seeing enhanced convection over the city, cloud formation favored by increased condensation nuclei, and increased showers downwind of the city. The complete story, "
NASA Satellite Confirms Urban Heat Islands Increase Rainfall Around Cities" accompanies this animation.
