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Discover Your Changing World with NOAA

We can think of Earth’s ocean, atmosphere, clouds, 

ice, land, plants and animals as 

the Climate Team, because they 

all affect climate. The climate 

at a particular place on Earth 

depends upon how members of 

the Climate Team work together.

The ocean is one of the Climate 

Team’s power players. One 

reason is that the ocean is very 

large and covers 70% of Earth’s 

surface. Another reason is that 

water has a high heat capacity, 

which means it takes a lot of 

heat to change the temperature 

of water. Raising the temperature of one kilogram of water by 

one degree requires more than three times as much heat energy 

as raising the temperature of one kilogram of air by one degree. 

The ocean absorbs large amounts of heat energy from the Sun, 

and ocean currents move this energy from one place on Earth to 

another. The ocean’s major current systems are sometimes called 

the “global conveyor belt,” and the heat that they carry has a 

large impact on climate.

The atmosphere is another one of the Climate Team’s power 

players, and it exchanges heat with the ocean. Water from the 

ocean enters the atmosphere when it evaporates, and returns 

to the ocean as rain or snow. When water evaporates it absorbs 

heat, and when it precipitates as rain or snow it releases heat. 

Movement of water vapor in the atmosphere is another way that 

heat can be transferred from one 

place to another. The atmosphere 

also absorbs and reflects energy 

from the Sun. The amount of 

solar energy that is absorbed or 

reflected depends on the gases 

that make up the atmosphere. The 

ways that different gases affect 

Earth’s climate is discussed more in 

Activity 6, I Didn’t Do It, Did I?.

How It Works

Solar cooking is an easy, safe, 

and convenient way to cook food 

without using fuel. These benefits 

are particularly important for 

people who live in places where 

fuel is scarce or expensive. Besides cooking food, solar energy 

can be used to purify drinking water by boiling it, and avoid 

waterborne diseases that kill many people every year.

The basic principle of solar cookers is when sunlight strikes a 

dark-colored object, the object absorbs some of the energy in 

the sunlight and converts it to heat. This causes the object to 

become hot. Solar cookers use shiny surfaces to reflect sunlight 

onto a dark pot to increase the amount of heat energy that 

the pot receives. These reflectors may be flat panels, boxes, or 

curved surfaces (see Want to Do More for sources of different 

solar cooker designs). Dark, shallow, thin metal pots with dark, 

tight-fitting lids are the best containers for solar cooking. Some 

solar cookers use a clear plastic bag around the pot to trap heat 

and still allow sunlight to strike the pot. 

Activity 2: The Climate Team

What You Will Do: Make a Solar Cooker

What You Will Need

Adult partner

1 – Cardboard about 22 in x 10 in

1 – Cardboard about 57 in x 45 in (from 

a large appliance carton or mirror 

box)

Aluminum foil, about 18 square feet

White glue

Foam paint brush, about 2 inches wide

Measuring cup, at least 2 oz capacity

Paper or plastic cup, about 8 oz capacity

Duct tape

Black pot, 1 or 2 quart capacity (buy an 

inexpensive aluminum pot from 

a local thrift store and paint the 

outside with flat black paint)

Metal ruler or straightedge

Knife for cutting cardboard (safety box 

cutters and safety utility knives 

have a built-in shield to protect 

fingers)

Gloves for protection while using the 

knife (hardware stores and home 

centers have cut-resistant gloves)

Sunglasses and oven mitts for 

protection while using your Solar 

Cooker

Rice

 

 












	



















     



	



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  The Global Conveyor Belt is caused mainly when seawater in the Norwegian Sea is cooled 

and sinks into the deep ocean. The sinking process can slow down or even stop if large 

amounts of freshwater enter the Norwegian Sea from unusual rainfall, snow, runoff, or 

melting ice. Changes in the Global Conveyor Belt can cause climate changes in Europe and 

other areas of Earth’s Ocean (United Nations Environment Programme and World Meteorological Organization, 1996; http://maps.grida.no/library/files/storage/31new.pdf).

Great Ocean Conveyor Belt

Big Idea

Climate is regulated by complex 

interactions among components of 

the Earth system. (Climate Science 

Principle 2)
7 Climate Science Principle 2: Climate is regulated by complex interactions among components of the Earth system.

2. The Climate Team

How to Do It

1. Cut a pattern for your solar cooker from the 22 in x 

10 in piece of cardboard.

a. Place the cardboard on a flat surface and cut it 

to measure 21-5/8 in by 9-1/2 (Figure 1).

b. Make a mark 14 inches from the top of the 

cardboard along each side (Figure 2). Draw a line 

between these marks(Figure 3). 

c. Make a mark 2-3/8 inches from the sides of the 

cardboard on the line drawn in Step 1b (Figure 4).

d. Draw a line from the top corners of the cardboard to the marks made in Step 1c (Figure 5).

e. Make a mark 4-1/4 inches from the sides of the 

cardboard along the bottom (Figure 6).

f. Draw a line from the marks made in Step 1c to 

the marks made in Step 1e (Figure 7).

g. Put the cardboard on a cutting board or several 

layers of scrap cardboard. Cut along the lines 

drawn in Steps 1d and 1f (Figure 8). Use a metal 

ruler or straightedge to keep the cuts straight. 

(Be careful and wear gloves!)

h. Your pattern should look like Figure 9.

2. Lay out the Reflector for your solar cooker on the 

57 in x 45 in piece of cardboard.

a. Place the cardboard on a flat surface. Make a 

mark 9 inches from the bottom along the left 

side of the cardboard (Figure 10).

b. Place your pattern on the cardboard, and make 

two marks as shown in Figure 11. 

c. Draw a line around the outside of your pattern, 

then remove the pattern (Figure 12).

d. Draw a line between the two marked points 

(Figure 13).

e. Use your pattern to draw another outline 

beneath the outline drawn in Step 2c. Be sure 

to make the two marks (Step 2b) and draw a line 

between these points (Step 2d) as before. Now 

your layout should resemble Figure 14.

9-1/2”

21-5/8”

14”

2-3/8” 2-3/8”

4-1/4” 4-1/4” Cut along

dashed lines

Figure 1.

Figures 1 - 9: Steps to make a pattern for the solar cooker.

Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure 5. Figure 6. Figure 7. Figure 8.

CAUTION: 

: Be sure to wear sunglasses whenever you work with aluminum foil outside in the sun.

: Wear oven mitts when removing pots and pans from your solar cooker! When the sun is shining they can become too hot to touch in 

one or two minutes!

: Tips for Safe Cutting: Sharp is safe, because a dull knife can slip off the cardboard rather than cut into it easily. Always use a cutting 

board to protect the blade of the knife and help keep it sharp. Keep your fingers away from the path of the blade as you cut. Begin 

with a light scoring cut to guide the blade for additional cuts. Several light cuts make it easier to control the blade. Never force the 

blade through materials being cut, because it increases the chances of an uncontrolled slip.

Figure 10.

9”

Figure 9.

9”
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Discover Your Changing World with NOAA

f. Use your pattern to draw ten more outlines as 

shown in Figure 15. Be sure to make the two 

marks (Step 2b) and draw a line between them 

(Step 2d) on each outline.

g. Put the cardboard on a cutting board or several 

layers of scrap cardboard. Cut the Reflector out 

along the DASHED lines shown in Figure 16). 

Use a metal ruler or straightedge to keep the 

cuts straight. (Be careful and wear gloves!)

3. Fold the Reflector along the SOLID lines shown in 

Figure 16. Use a metal ruler or straightedge to keep 

the folds straight. You may also use the edge of a 

table or countertop to help make straight folds.

4. Mix 2 oz of white glue with 2 oz water in a paper or 

plastic cup. Use a foam paint brush to spread the 

glue mixture over the surface of the Reflector, then 

put strips of aluminum foil onto the Reflector to 

completely cover the surface. Allow the glue to dry.

5. Bring the small triangles together and hold 

them in place with duct tape on the cardboard 

side of the reflector(Figure 17). Do not put tape on 

the aluminum foil side! Bring the long edges of 

the Reflector together and hold them in place 

with more duct tape. Your reflector is finished!

6. It’s time to test your Solar Cooker. A good 

first test is to cook some rice. Put 1/2-cup of rice 

into your black pot, add 1 cup of water, and place 

the lid on the pot. Set your Reflector on a flat 

surface so that it is resting on one or two of the 

small triangles closest to the center, and pointing 

toward the Sun. Put some bricks or rocks around 

the outside of the Reflector to keep it steady and 

to stop any wind from blowing it around. 

Your Reflector is designed to have the approximate shape of a parabola. Parabolas are useful 

because their shape can focus the energy of 

sunlight onto a specific spot. The location of 

this spot depends upon the dimensions of the 

parabola. The focal point of your Reflector should 

be about six inches from the small hole at the 

back of the Reflector. This means that you will 

need some way to hold your pot in this position. A 

tripod (Figure 18) is a good choice, because it won’t 

prevent reflected sun rays from reaching the sides 

and bottom of the pot. You can make a tripod 

from three sticks and a piece of heavy string. 

Search the Internet for “tripod lashing” (or ask a 

Boy or Girl Scout) to find directions for tying the 

sticks together to make a tripod.

Put your tripod inside 

the Reflector, put 

the pot on top of the 

tripod, and wait (Figure 

19). Rice ordinarily takes 

about 20 minutes to 

cook on top of a stove, 

but your Solar Cooker will probably need at least 

twice as much time. Check your rice after 40 

minutes. If it needs more time, put the lid back 

on, check to be sure the Reflector is still pointed 

toward the Sun, and wait another 30 minutes. 

For long cooking times, you need to adjust the 

Reflector position every now and then as the 

position of the Sun changes in the sky.

7. Once your rice is cooked, try an experiment: 

a. Put about two cups of rice in the pot without 

water. Cover the pot, place the lid on top, put 

the pot on the tripod in your Solar Cooker, and 

leave it in the Sun for ten minutes. 

b. Check the temperature of the rice with a 

Mark here

Mark here

Figure 11. Figure 14. Figure 15.

Figure 16.

Figure 12. Figure 13.

Figure 18

Figure 17
9 Climate Science Principle 2: Climate is regulated by complex interactions among components of the Earth system.

2. The Climate Team

thermometer (be careful, the pot will be hot!) 

and record your measurement. 

c. Empty out the rice, and put two cups of water 

into the pot. Place the lid on top, put the pot on 

the tripod in your Solar Cooker, and leave it in 

the Sun for ten minutes. 

d. Check the temperature, and record your 

measurement.

e. Can you explain your results? [Hint: remember 

the discussion of heat capacity at the 

beginnning of this Activity]. If land and water 

both receive the same amount of sunlight, 

which will absorb more solar energy?

8. You can cook many different types of food in your 

Solar Cooker! For some ideas and recipes, check 

out http://www.solarovens.org/recipes/. Remember 

you can also use covered black baking pans for 

foods such as cookies.

What About Other Members of the Climate Team?

Climate-prediction scientists know there are many 

other players on the Climate Team. These scientists 

often call the Climate Team players “climate forcings” 

because they can force Earth’s climate to change, 

usually by affecting the amount of solar energy that 

enters and leaves Earth’s atmosphere.

Some climate forcings affect solar energy entering 

the atmosphere as well as the energy from Earth 

that escapes back into space. Clouds are an example, 

because dense, low-lying clouds reflect sunlight back 

into space before it can reach Earth’s surface. On 

the other hand, high, thin clouds have the opposite 

effect. These clouds allow incoming sunshine to pass 

through the atmosphere but trap heat that would 

escape back into space if the clouds were not present. 

Clouds are often affected by airborne particles 

called aerosols. These are tiny liquid and solid 

particles that are injected into the atmosphere 

by natural processes such as ocean spray, 

volcanoes, and forest fires. Human activities such 

as burning fuels for cooking, heat, transportation, 

and electricity can also send aerosols into the 

atmosphere. Different aerosols have different effects 

on Earth’s climate. Light-colored aerosols reflect 

sunlight back into space and have a cooling effect. 

Dark-colored aerosols absorb solar energy and 

make the atmosphere warmer. Sometimes, aerosols 

increase cloud formation, but dark aerosols like the 

soot from forest fires can reduce cloudiness. These 

kinds of opposite effects are one of the reasons that 

climate prediction is a complicated job!

Ice and snow can act as climate forcings because 

they also reflect solar energy away from Earth’s 

surface. The ability of a surface to reflect radiation 

is called albedo (pronounced al-BEE-dough). When 

increased air temperatures cause ice and snow to 

melt, the surface underneath (such as soil) may be 

much darker. When this happens, the newly-exposed 

surface will absorb more energy from sunlight than 

was absorbed by the ice and snow. Absorption of 

additional energy raises the surface temperature, 

and causes even more melting. This is an example of 

positive feedback loops that can amplify the effects 

of a single change. The water from melting ice and 

snow can cause changes in major ocean currents, 

which in turn can lead to rapid changes in climate in 

regions far away from the places where the melting 

actually happened. The players on the climate team 

influence each other, which means that a significant 

change to one part of Earth’s climate system can 

have effects on the entire system. 

Plants and animals continuously move certain gases 

in and out of the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is 

one of these gases that is also an important climate 

forcing. The effect of plants, animals, and carbon 

dioxide is discussed more in Activity 6.

Want to Do More?

For information about other solar cooker designs, 

see http://www.solarcookers.org/index.html. This is 

the Solar Cookers International website dedicated 

to spreading solar cooking awareness and skills 

worldwide, particularly in areas with plentiful 

sunshine and diminishing sources of cooking fuel.

Figure 19

Image on Page 8 is from: United Nations Environment 

Programme and World Meteorological Organization. 

1996. Internet: http://www.grida.no/publications/vg/

climate/page/3085.aspx; data from Climate Change 

1995 – Impacts, adaptations and mitigation of climate 

change: Scientific-Technical Analyses. Contribution of 

Working Group 2 to the Second Assessment Report 

of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 

Cartographer/Designer: Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/

GRID-Arendal. Cambridge University Press.