53: Greenhouse Gases Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the most prevalent greenhouse gas?

A

CO2

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2
Q

What is happening with CO2 in the atmosphere?

A

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

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3
Q

What processes REMOVE CO2 from the atmosphere?

A

photosynthesis and uptake by ocean waters

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4
Q

What processes ADD CO2 to the atmosphere?

A

respiration and combustion (burning), especially fossil fuels

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5
Q

What is methane?

A

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

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6
Q

Where else is methane released?

A

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

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7
Q

What is the problem with methane?

A
  1. traps much more heat than CO2
  2. levels have doubled since pre-industrial times
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8
Q

Where do NOx come from?

A

manure, burning fossil fuels, fertilizers, industries, cars

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9
Q

What are fluorinated gases?

A

CFCs
HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons)
Halons

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10
Q

What is happening with water vapor levels?

A

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

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11
Q

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

A

fluorinated gases, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide

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12
Q

What is the carbon cycle?

A

the process that adds or removes CO2 from the atmosphere

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