4.3 Greenhouse Gases Flashcards
What are greenhouse gases?
gases in the earth’s atmosphere that trap heat
What do greenhouse gases do?
absorb the sun’s heat that radiates from the Earth’s surface, trap it in the atmosphere, and prevent it from escaping into space
What is the greenhouse effect?
the process through which heat is trapped near the Earth’s surface by substances known as ‘greenhouse gases’
Why is the greenhouse effect important?
keeps our planet at a suitable temperature for life
How have humans contributed to the greenhouse effect?
burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests, and farming livestock
What do ice cores tell us about the patterns of CO2 and temperature for the past 800,000 years?
compares past concentrations of greenhouse gasses to temperature, based on bubbles trapped in the ice cores
What is the difference between positive and negative feedback?
positive feedback amplifies change while negative feedback reduces change
What are the four major determinants of climate?
sunlight, tilt of the Earth’s axis, gradual changes in Earth’s rotation and orbit around the sun, and any significant increase or decrease in the Sun’s energy output
How will climate change further you get away from the equator by latitude?
the average temperature will go down the farther you are away from the equator, and seasonality will be more distinct the farther away you are from the equator
True or False?
Water has a high specific heat.
True, water has a high specific heat. Specific heat is the heat required to raise the temperature of a substance.
