The Climate Change Collection project website has not been significantly updated since 2005. We are preserving the content here for historical purposes and because it may still contain useful ideas and content. But be aware that it may have out of date information and links to external resources that are no longer available.

For current teaching resources on climate change please visit the CLEAN project.

Initial Publication Date: December 12, 2005

Name of Resource: Atmospheric Processes Radiation
Climate Change Theme: Energy Balance
Sponsoring Organization: UCAR Project Learn
Intended use: Learning Activity
Intended audience: Educators and Learners
URL: https://scied.ucar.edu/activity/learn/radiation-albedo
Average Review Ratings (Poor to Excellent, 1-5 scale): 5 stars

Description: Starts with a brief discussion of heat transfer processes and has a great activity that focuses on radiation. Using the activity, students investigate how different surfaces absorb heat and then apply their experience with the surfaces to interpret real-world situations. (RC)

Summary of Reviews

Reviewer: Carrie Morrill 5 stars
Comments:Hands-on activity with some good discussion questions listed at end.I like the analogy of a campstove to explain radiation,convection and conduction.However,it might not be necessary for this activity.
Read entire review: link text (Acrobat (PDF) 59kB Jun21 05)

Reviewer: Robert Croft 5 stars
Comments: Great activity to provide background experiences upon which students can build their understanding of a complex concept.
Read entire review: link text (Acrobat (PDF) 65kB Jun21 05)