Earth's Thermostat: What Sets the Earth's Steady Temperature?
Sim Lesson
Students use Earth's Thermostat simulation to raise carbon dioxide, toggle climate feedbacks, and observe Earth settle at a higher equilibrium temperature, identifying what drives the warming. Lesson Purpose Students often think climate change is simple or that feedbacks are separate causes. The model shows CO2 sets a new energy balance and feedbacks amplify the warming.
The Earth's temperature is set by a balance between energy coming in from the Sun and energy leaving to space. What happens to that balance, and the temperature, when we add more carbon dioxide? In this lesson, you will use Earth's Thermostat simulation to change carbon dioxide and feedbacks and watch the planet settle at a new temperature.
Topics and standards: Science, Climate Change, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Atmosphere, Simulation, HS-ESS3-6, HS-ESS3-5, Human Impacts, Grades 9-12, Earth Systems, Climate & Global Change, Earth System Interactions, SC.912.E.7.7, TEKS Science EARTH.11.C, Featured Tuva Sims Lessons, 3.3.9-12.M, 3.3.9-12.S