Radiation Budget Lesson: Mathematics

Recommended Age:
Intermediate Level (Grade 5-8)

Objective

Develop and apply a variety of strategies to solve problems, with emphasis on multistep and nonroutine problems.

Instructional Delivery

Cooperative Groups/ Flexible Groups/ Independently

Materials

Earth's Energy Budget Diagram (Click and print image)

Activity

The students are to solve the suggested mathematical word problems by looking at the Earth's Energy Budget Diagram.

1. Determine the radiation budget by looking at the Earth's Energy Budget.

   (Subtract the amount of solar energy from the total amount of reflected energy from the Earth in order to determine the radiation budget).

   100% - (6% + 20% + 4% + 64% + 6%) 100% - (100%) = 0; which represents a balance!

2. What is the total percentage of the incoming solar energy reflected from the Earth by the atmosphere, clouds, and Earth's surface?

   (reflected by: % atmosphere + % clouds + % Earth's surface = ________%)

   reflected by: atmosphere (6%) + clouds (20%) + Earth's surface (4%) = 30%

3. Is the total percentage of the incoming solar energy reflected from the atmosphere, clouds, and Earth's surface less than or greater than the incoming solar energy absorbed by the land and oceans?

   [(% atmosphere + % clouds + % Earth's surface) < or > (% land + ocean)]

   (atmosphere, clouds, Earth's surface) < (land and ocean) (30%) < (51%)

4. If the amount of incoming solar energy reflected from the Earth's surface tripled, how much energy would be reflected?

   (% Incoming solar energy) x 3 = ______%

   (4%) x 3 = 12%

Evaluation

Have students (cooperative groups, flexible groups, or independently) create and solve an original mathematical word problem by using the information on the Earth's Energy Budget diagram.