4.4 Climate Change

Question 1

The most significant greenhouse gases

Answer 1

carbon dioxide and water vapour

Question 2

How heat is trapped in the atmosphere

Answer 2

Greenhouse gases absorb and emit long-wave (infrared) radiation –> heat is trapped and held in atmosphere

Question 3

Amount of greenhouse gases in earth’s atmosphere

Answer 3

less than 1%

Question 4

Greenhouse gases with the largest warming effect

Answer 4

water vapour (clouds)
carbon dioxide

Question 5

How water vapor is created

Answer 5

evaporation of water bodies and transpiration

Question 6

How water vapor is removed

Answer 6

precipitation (rain)

Question 7

Less significant greenhouse gases

Answer 7

methane and nitrogen oxides

Question 8

How methane is emitted

Answer 8

from water logged habitats and landfills

Question 9

how nitrogen oxides are released

Answer 9

naturally by certain bacteria
exhaust by certain vehciles

Question 10

most abundant greenhouse gases

Answer 10

water vapour

Question 11

The impact of greenhouse gases is determined

Answer 11

ability to absorb long-wave radiation
concentration within atmosphere

Question 12

effect of greater ability to absorb long-wave radiation

Answer 12

have a greater warming impact per molecule

Question 13

effect of greater concentration within atmosphere

Answer 13

greater warming impact within the atmosphere

Question 14

how the concentration of gas within atmosphere is determined

Answer 14

rate of release & persistence within the atmosphere

Question 15

Impact of methane

Answer 15

larger capacity to absorb long-wave radiation than CO2
HOWEVER< significantly less abundant

Question 16

Persistance of water vapour

Answer 16

enters atmosphere rapidly, but only remains for short periods

Question 17

persistence of carbon dioxide

Answer 17

persists for years (5-200)

Question 18

The greenhouse effect

Answer 18

Natural process –> causes atmosphere to behave like a greenhouse (trapping heat)
The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat)

Question 19

Purpose of greenhouse effect

Answer 19

maintains moderate temperatures needed for organisms an life processes (homeostasis)

Question 20

Consequence of no greenhouse effect

Answer 20

temperatures would drop at night due to absence of direct sunlight

Question 21

Process of Greenhouse effect

Answer 21

1. Functions to trap heat within the atmosphere - prevents temp fluctuations
2. Incoming radiation is shorter wave (ultraviolet) (pass or absorbed by GH gases)
3. earth surface absorbs or reflects short waves
4. reflected re-emits as longer waves (infra-red / heat)
5. greenhouse gases absorb and re-radiate longer waves –> retain the heat within atmosphere

Question 22

Process of Greenhouse effect

Answer 22

1. Functions to trap heat within the atmosphere - prevents temp fluctuations
2. Incoming radiation is shorter wave (ultraviolet) (pass or absorbed by GH gases)
3. earth surface absorbs or reflects short waves
4. reflected re-emits as longer waves (infra-red / heat)
5. greenhouse gases absorb and re-radiate longer waves –> retain the heat within atmosphere