This model simulates the effect of solar radiation and albedo on temperature. Click "Edit Camera" and right-click and drag to tilt Spaceland so you can view the model in 3-D.
In this model, the sun emits solar radiation (yellow circles) which travel down to the Earth's surface. Once they collide with the Earth's surface, some of the radiation is reflected while another portion is absorbed and then emitted as infra-red radiation (referred to as "heat" here, represented by red circles). The portion reflected and absorbed is determined by the albedo of the Earth, set at 60% here. The more solar energy reflected, the less heat is created. To model that heat is absorbed into the earth and escapes slowly, we have the heat agents move up much more slowly that the reflected energy agents.
The Earth's temperature rises with the "heat" and stabilizes around a certain temperature.