4.3 Study Guide

Question 1

What are greenhouse gases and what do they do?

Answer 1

Gases and heat that are trapped close to Earth’s surface and in the atmosphere causing the Earth to ultimately heat up.

Question 2

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 2

The greenhouse effect is the process of sunlight being reflected back into space, absorbed in the Earth’s atmosphere, radiated into space, passed through the atmosphere, or absorbed by greenhouse gases.

Question 3

Why is it important and how have humans affected it?

Answer 3

It is important because it is how the Earth gets its warmth. Humans have affected it by releasing many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Question 4

What do ice cores tell us about the patterns of CO2 and temperature for the past 800,000 years?

Answer 4

They can tell us the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere when the ice was formed. It can also tell the temperature based on how much CO2 was in the atmosphere.

Question 5

What is the difference between positive and negative feedback?

Answer 5

Positive feedback is an effect that amplifies the initial disturbance. Negative feedback is an effect that negates the initial disturbance.