A simplified energy-balance model: incoming shortwave sunlight is partly reflected by ice/cloud albedo, the rest
warms the surface, and outgoing longwave (infrared) radiation is partly trapped by greenhouse gases before escaping to space.
ΔT ≈ k · ln(CO2 / CO2_ref) − a · albedo_loss + c·(1−albedo)
IR_out = IR_base · (1 − f(CO2))
feedback: less ice → lower albedo → more warming → less ice
- CO₂ concentration — raises greenhouse trapping of outgoing infrared, warming the surface (log-scale forcing).
- Ice albedo — sets how much of the polar ice cap remains, which reflects sunlight back to space.
- Ocean current strength — speeds up or slows the conveyor-belt current ribbon redistributing heat.
- Show sunlight / IR trapping — toggles which radiation layer's particle streams are visible.
This mirrors the real ice-albedo feedback loop and greenhouse forcing used in simplified climate energy-balance
models taught in introductory climate science.