Assessment Criteria—

1. Diagram Model, meeting the following criteria:

   • Brief, accurate, descriptive text in boxes of the changes in the system

   • Arrows accurately linked and oriented between the changes

   • Accurately labelled + and - on arrows, depending on the type of feedback

   • Classification of the entire feedback loop as positive or negative

2. An explanation, no longer than one paragraph, how increases and decreases in solar radiation affect the behavior of feedback loop you modeled.

3. A brief statement/description of changes in the structure or function of the atmosphere as a result of these interactions (with reason)

You may also refer by name to a law (0th, 1st, 2nd) of thermodynamics, a form a heat transfer (radiation, conduction, convection), or both, that’s involved in this as an extra, brief explanation. This is what will get you a “4”. 

Procedure:

1. Read the article through once, before drawing your diagram. Highlight the relevant components and interactions  referenced in the article.

   • Review your notes and formatives for what the components and interactions could be.

   • The article is not edited for length or content. You may wind up highlighting within a small or dispersed regions of the article

2. Draft some initial model designs so that you can clearly and accurately diagram the system.

   • Arrows connected between related components that directly interact

   • No overlapping lines

   • Legible handwriting, clear labels

3. Final submission is on one page, only. Photo of your original work submitted in Google Classroom.

One hour time limit.

1. Your diagram model may look like one of the following examples:

2. An example of a brief explanation of how increases and decreases in solar radiation affect the behavior of the feedback loop modeled:

When the insolation increases due to seasonal changes, the local temperature increases as well. Due to the 0th law of thermodynamics, two objects with different temperatures will have the tendency to reach thermal l equilibrium. Thermal equilibrium occurs as a result of an increase in ground and air temperatures, which will cause ice and snow to melt, exposing the permafrost to more radiation. This cause the permafrost to thaw and melt. As permafrost melts, CO2 is released  into the atmosphere. More CO2 (a GHG) will trap more heat energy in the atmosphere, resulting in increased temperatures. When there is less solar radiation, the global temperatures will decrease. A decrease in temperature will lead to the synthesis of snow and ice, which will freeze the permafrost and store (sequester) CO2 from being released in the atmosphere. This will stabilize or decrease global temperatures. 

3. An example of a brief statement of how the structure or function of the atmosphere is altered by interactions in the feedback loop:

In this positive feedback loop, increases in the solar energy change the composition of the atmosphere by adding more CO2. 

4. To achieve a "4" you will need to state only one specific example of thermodynamics OR heat transfer OR energy conversions that is interacting in the feedback loop. Expand the text below to see a list of examples for laws of thermodynamics, only:

Video tutorial of the whole process (17 minutes)

0:00 - 2:10 Introduction to summative criteria, procedure and expectations

2:10 - 3:48 Reading and highlighting appropriate evidence from the article

3:48 - 8:10 Design of model version #1

8:10 - 10:24 Design of model version #2

10:24 - 16:28 Constructing explanation (criteria #2)

16:28 - 17:42 Constructing statement (criteria #3)