Modeling Earth’s Energy Budget: The Inspiration

The Climate Lens VR simulation was inspired by one of the most fundamental frameworks in climate science: Earth’s energy budget. This concept models the flow of energy into, through, and out of the Earth system, and serves as the backbone for understanding how our planet maintains a stable climate (or doesn’t).

When incoming and outgoing energy are equal, Earth's climate remains stable. Solar energy reaches Earth as shortwave radiation, some of which is reflected by clouds, atmospheric particles, and surfaces like ice or water (a process influenced by albedo).​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The rest is absorbed by the atmosphere, land, and oceans, warming the planet. Earth then emits this energy as longwave infrared radiation. Factors like greenhouse gas concentrations, cloud cover, and surface characteristics can alter how much energy is absorbed or retained, which in turn affects global temperatures. Understanding this energy exchange is crucial for studying climate change, weather patterns, and the effects of human activity on Earth’s systems.