Four contributors to global mean surface temperature are atmospheric CO2, the ENSO (NINO3.4) cycle, the PDO cycle, and solar variability - but how much do each contribute? This app lets you select the contribution of each. Global mean surface temperature is displayed at the top. At the bottom is the temperature MINUS the effect you have prescribed for each factor. If you account for all factors you should be able to reduce the bottom graph to a flat line. You will not be able to get a flat line because CO2, ENSO, PDO, and solar variability are not the only contributors to global mean surface temperature - but you may come close!
On the final screen we will reconstruct a temperature graph based on your selections. Is the generated (blue) graph similar to the measured (black) temperature? Can you make out features in your blue graph that are also present in the real temperatures? What is ENSO (Nino 3.4)? This represents an exchange of energy between the atmosphere and the ocean. It oscillates up and down as the ocean absorbs or releases energy to the atmosphere, but does not contribute to the long term trend. Bugs: Other things that affect atmospheric temperature that aren't included here: volcanic activity (whose ash can block out the sun and cool the Earth), atmospheric pollution (which can either heat or cool the earth depending on the type and location), albedo (which is the reflectivity of the Earth - This can change with land use or a change in snow cover), etc, etc. Amazingly you can get most of the way there with just the factors included here.
