53: Greenhouse Gases

Question 1

What is the most prevalent greenhouse gas?

Answer 1

CO2

Question 2

What is happening with CO2 in the atmosphere?

Answer 2

it is being added to the atmosphere faster than its being removed

Question 3

What processes REMOVE CO2 from the atmosphere?

Answer 3

photosynthesis and uptake by ocean waters

Question 4

What processes ADD CO2 to the atmosphere?

Answer 4

respiration and combustion (burning), especially fossil fuels

Question 5

What is methane?

Answer 5

CH4, natural gas
- naturally present in bogs, rice paddies, landfills

Question 6

Where else is methane released?

Answer 6

released from the digestive system of animals like cattle (farting and belching)

Question 7

What is the problem with methane?

Answer 7

1. traps much more heat than CO2
2. levels have doubled since pre-industrial times

Question 8

Where do NOx come from?

Answer 8

manure, burning fossil fuels, fertilizers, industries, cars

Question 9

What are fluorinated gases?

Answer 9

CFCs
HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons)
Halons

Question 10

What is happening with water vapor levels?

Answer 10

varies a lot from day to day but it’s not increasing much over time in the last 10,000 years

Question 11

How good are these greenhouse gases at trapping heat? (most to least)

Answer 11

fluorinated gases, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide

Question 12

What is the carbon cycle?

Answer 12

the process that adds or removes CO2 from the atmosphere