Atmospheric Model vs KAIRAKU

The app uses a simple radiative transfer model for a planet with two leaky* atmospheric layers. It begins by calculating Te, the emission temperature of the planet by using the Solar constant and planetary Albedo. Te is called the Blackbody temperature because it is inferred by fitting a Blackbody curve to the observed outbound LWIR radiation. You can choose any of the 9 planets in our solar system, or choose one of your own making. The app then uses 5 parameters for the chosen “base” planet: the Albedo (alpha), distance from the sun (r), extinction coefficients of two atmospheric layers (epsilon1, 2), and the solar constant S0 to calculate temperatures and radiative flux densities. One can modify these 5 adjustable parameters from their base values, and update the result. A flux diagram is generated showing the incoming short wavelength (SW), and outgoing long wavelength (LW) radiation. Two model run results can be saved and differences displayed. Also, runs can be saved to a .csv file for E-mail export and spreadsheet analysis. Calculate the “natural” 33K greenhouse effect (compare Earth with and without an atmosphere), or change the extinction coefficients to see the effect of adding or reducing absorbing gasses. Predict what Mars might be like with an atmosphere, or see what would happen if the characteristics of our sun, albedo or planetary orbit change. This simple model can create hours of fun. The base parameter values for Earth nicely calculate Ts, Te, and T1 (upper troposphere) values, and the model correctly predicts Te’s for all the planets. INSTRUCTIONS: Load app, choose a “base” planet, segue with Update. Click Update to calculate the temperatures and flux densities. Segue to inspect the flux densities, and/or modify the base parameters to see changes. Save and compare differences in 2 runs. (C/C0) values are in CO2 equivalents. Save runs to .csv file for spreadsheet analysis. USAGE TIPS: Start with a base planet, but realize this simple 2 layer model cannot accurately predict the surface temperatures of the gas giants or Venus. Pressing the Back button allows you to refresh your parameter or base planet choices. Remember a 5 K change in Ts resulted in the Earth’s last Ice Age! For convenience, the Test planet can be used to create your own set of parameters without entering a planet name. Increasing the solar constant increases all temperatures. Increasing epsilon does nothing to Te, which depends only on S0, r, and alpha. Press On/Off & Home takes flux diagram screenshot. It is easy to remove a saved data file run (row) after import to spreadsheet. RADIATIVE FORCING and CLIMATE SENSITIVITY: Radiative forcing (dF) can be used to estimate the change in surface temperature (dTs) arising from that forcing using: dTs = lambda x dF, where lambda is the Climate Sensitivity in K / (W/m2). Forcing due to an atmospheric greenhouse gas such as CO2 can be expressed as: dF (in W/m2) = 5.35 × ln (C/C0), where C is the CO2 concentration [CO2] and C0 is the initial concentration (in ppm). For a single atmospheric layer Earth, changing the base value of epsilon = 0.78 to epsilon = 0.83 (d-epsilon = 0.05) gives an 3K T rise; roughly the equivalent of doubling [CO2] (and a forcing of 3.71 W/m2). There has been a [CO2] increase between the years 1750 (280 ppm) and 2000 (380 ppm). Thus dF = 5.35 x ln (370/280) = 1.5 W/m2. dTs = lambda x dF = 0.8 (K/(W/m2)) x 1.5 (W/m2) = 1.2 K over that timeframe (d-epsilon 0.02 used). * Leaky implies epsilon less than 1.

KAIRAKU is an interactive app for learning how the ocean works, with animated visuals and simple controls. Why is the sea layered? Where does deep water come from? Why does a tsunami cross the ocean as fast as a jet? Why do corals turn white? Change the conditions yourself and see. Developer: Fuji Bit Inc. The oceanography edition of the RAKU science series, from school earth science and biology to introductory oceanography, with real numbers and examples. 12 simulations in 3 categories: Seawater and currents: - Ocean layers: temperature, salinity and density (sigma-t) for the tropics, mid-latitude summer and winter, and the Arctic, from World Ocean Atlas values, with the mixed layer, thermocline, deep water and a T-S diagram. - Global conveyor belt: cold, salty water sinks near Greenland and Antarctica and circles the world's oceans over a thousand years or more. Add Greenland meltwater and watch the Atlantic overturning (AMOC) weaken, then shut down and stay off (Stommel's two-box model). - Ekman spiral: wind-driven surface water turns 45 degrees to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and keeps turning and weakening with depth. Change the wind speed, latitude and direction and see the spiral and the Ekman transport at right angles to the wind. - Sea ice: seawater freezes at about -1.9 °C. See how air temperature and snow set the growth rate, how brine is pushed out, and how ice and snow reflect sunlight. Waves and tides: - Tides: the Moon's and Sun's pull makes two tidal bulges, seen from above the North Pole. Spring and neap tides, high tide about 50 minutes later each day, and the diurnal inequality on a tide graph. - Wave refraction and breaking: waves slow down, shorten and grow in the shallows, and turn to face the beach. Change the period, height, angle and slope and see where and how they break. - Tsunami (new): a tsunami's speed depends only on depth, about 700 km/h over 4,000 m of water. Watch it slow and grow toward the coast, and follow the 1960 Chile tsunami across the Pacific to Japan. - Sound in the sea (new): sound speed depends on temperature, salinity and pressure, so a sound channel (SOFAR) forms near 1,000 m at mid-latitudes. Change the region, source depth and angles and watch the rays bend and travel far. Life in the sea: - Marine food web: only about 10% of the energy passes up each level, from phytoplankton to top predators. Change the efficiency, region and fishing and see the energy pyramid and biomagnification. - Plankton bloom: an NPZ model of nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton shows the spring bloom when the mixed layer gets shallower than the critical depth, the nutrient-poor summer and the small autumn bloom. - Coral bleaching: long marine heatwaves make corals lose their algae and turn white. See NOAA's Degree Heating Weeks and alert levels, and how ocean acidification weakens calcification. - Hydrothermal vents: deep-sea pressure keeps 350 °C water from boiling as it billows black smoke, and life gathers around chemosynthesis instead of sunlight. Change the depth, temperature and flow and see the boiling point and plume height. Features: - Clean, modern design (switch between dark and light themes) - Home screen organized by category, plus an "All modes" list - Tips and a play button in the control panel - Results change in real time as you move sliders and choices - An explanation sheet with formulas, terms and real examples for every simulation - Canvas and controls side by side in landscape and on large screens - Supports larger text sizes - 73 languages including English and Japanese (follows your device language) - No sign-in; start exploring right away - An educational simulator: it does not show real tide levels, tsunami warnings or sea conditions Price and purchases: - Price: Free - In-app purchases: none - Subscriptions: none - Ads: a Pangle banner ad at the bottom of the screen