For First Responders · Energy Balance
Energy Balance for an El Niño
Built for first responders planning or training for real incidents. Run fast what-if scenarios for response planning and training — no software to install in the field. Simulate an El Niño live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.
Planetary Energy BalanceLive
greenhouse effect · equilibrium temperature
Equilibrium surface temperature
13.7°C
286.9 K
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Presets
A planet warms until it radiates away exactly the sunlight it absorbs. Balancing absorbed power S(1−α)/4 against εσT⁴ gives the equilibrium temperature. An emissivity below 1 represents greenhouse gases trapping outgoing infrared, raising the surface temperature.
Data Inspector
Absorbed power238 W/m²
No-greenhouse T-18.6 °C
Greenhouse warming+32.3 °C
Governing equation
Reading this result: Dropping emissivity below 1 mimics greenhouse gases: they add 32 °C on top of the -19 °C bare-rock temperature.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is this good for first responders?
- Yes — this version of "Energy Balance for an El Niño" is framed for first responders planning or training for real incidents. Run fast what-if scenarios for response planning and training — no software to install in the field.
- Do I need to install anything?
- No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.