3: The greenhouse Effect

Question 1

The sunlight that arrives at the top of the atmosphere is referred to as ________________________ by atmospheric scientists.

Answer 1

Insolation

Question 2

Match the following wavelengths of sunlight to their associated effects.

380-740
infrared
ultraviolet light

with the following

heat
sunburn
or visible light

Answer 2

380-740 nm: Visible light
Infrared: Heat
Ultraviolet light: Sunburn

Question 3

This type of radiation makes up the largest range of wavelengths in sunlight

Answer 3

Infrared

Question 4

True or False? Hot springs, geysers, and volcanic eruptions have a significant direct effect on the heat content of our atmosphere.

Answer 4

False

Question 5

The highest intensity of solar radiation is reached in this range of wavelengths
Group of answer choices

Answer 5

Visible light

Question 6

A beam of solar radiation moves through an atmospheric gas molecule completely unimpeded and hits the Earth’s surface. The beam is said to have been ____________________

Answer 6

Transmitted

Question 7

A beam of sunlight hits an atmospheric gas molecule and the radiation splits, sending some rays back to space, and others towards the surface. The beam of sunlight is said to have been__________________

Answer 7

Scattered

Question 8

The following three gases make up 99.9% of the air in the Earth’s atmosphere (click all that apply)
Group of answer choices

Answer 8

Nitrogen
oxygen
argon

Question 9

There are ____ major greenhouse gases, responsible for absorbing and trapping heat in our atmosphere.

Answer 9

6

Question 10

Although some aerosols are able to absorb heat for short periods of time, the main role aerosols play in the greenhouse effect is as __________________________

Answer 10

The main role aerosols play in the greenhouse effect is as reflectors of incoming solar radiation.

Question 11

Which of the following gases most effectively absorb incoming solar radiation in the UV range of the spectrum? (Look at the graph labelled “Absorption of Radiation by Atmospheric Gases” in your lecture slides)

Answer 11

Ozone and oxygen

Question 12

Which of the following gases most effectively absorb infrared wavelength of around 10 microns?

Answer 12

oxygen and ozone

Question 13

In general, greenhouse gases are collectively most effective at absorbing which wavelengths?

Answer 13

Infrared

Question 14

Which greenhouse gas effectively absorbs the greatest range of sunlight’s wavelengths?

Answer 14

Water vapor

Question 15

Carbon dioxide effectively absorbs the following wavelengths?

Answer 15

wavelengths between approximately 14 and 19 microns

Question 16

Wavelengths between 0.3 and 2.3 microns are collectively known as……

Answer 16

wavelengths that make up the “window of incoming solar radiation”

Question 17

When it comes to insolation, three important numbers are 30%, 47%, and 23%. What do they measure?

Answer 17

30% of insolation is reflected 23% of insolation is absorbed by the atmosphere 47% of insolation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface

Question 18

On average, most reflection of insolation takes place….

Answer 18

at the top of the atmosphere

Question 19

On average, most of insolation is___________________

Answer 19

On average, most of insolation is transmitted through to the surface of the Earth.

Question 20

The albedo of a surface is a measure of its reflectivity. Which of the following surface has a low albedo and therefore ABSORBS most of the insolation.

Answer 20

water

Question 21

Asphalt and water share almost the same albedo (5-6%). In other words, they absorb roughly the same amount of insolation and reflect only very little insolation. Yet, after a day in the hot sun, asphalt gets really hot, whereas a similarly thick layer of water does not. Why?

Answer 21

asphalt has a lower heat capacity than water - its temperature rapidly rises with increased heat absorption, whereas that of water does not.

Question 22

True or False? UV radiation that is absorbed by the Earth’s surface is, in part, reradiated back to the atmosphere as UV radiation.

Answer 22

False. UV radiation that is absorbed by the Earth’s surface is primarily reradiated back to the atmosphere as infrared radiation, not as UV radiation.

Question 23

Insolation that is reflected by the surface of the Earth essentially travels out through the atmosphere back to space without being absorbed by the atmosphere. Why?

Answer 23

All insolation that reaches the Earth’s surface has already been “stripped” of most of the wavelengths readily absorbed by atmospheric gas molecules, so the outgoing reflected insolation is essentially invisible to gas molecules.

Question 24

The energy absorbed by the Earth’s surface is returned as heat to the atmosphere via evaporation, conduction, and radiation. Match the following to their definitions

heat absorbed by water molecules causes them to turn into a gaseous phase and rise into atmosphere

some of the Earth’s absorbed heat is directly transferred to air molecules in contact with the surface

Heat emitted from the Earth’s surface in the form of wave energy

Match with:

evaporation
conduction
radiation

Answer 24

Heat absorbed by water molecules causes them to turn into a gaseous phase and rise into the atmosphere: evaporation
Some of the Earth’s absorbed heat is directly transferred to air molecules in contact with the surface: conduction
Heat emitted from the Earth’s surface in the form of wave energy: radiation

Question 25

Heat emitted by atmospheric gas molecules (after they absorbed it) is solely in the __________________ range of the spectrum

Answer 25

infrared

Question 26

Historically, the atmosphere has lost the same amount of heat that it also gained at any moment in time. This is called heat equilibrium. Why then has the atmosphere not stayed freezing cold?

Answer 26

because after the last Ice Age, the Earth reached a certain stable level of greenhouse gases in its atmosphere. Until about 1750, these gases were at full heat capacity. Any heat added to them, would also immediately be lost to space, however, they always hold on to heat in the process.

Question 27

The radiation absorbed by the Earth’s heat is effectively converted into…….

Answer 27

higher wavelengths, notably long-wave infrared

Question 28

The Earth of today gains on average around 0.87 Watts of heat per square meter MORE than it is losing back to space. This observable and measurable phenomenon is known as…..

Answer 28

global warming