5.9.2.1 Greenhouse Gases Flashcards
1
Q
What do greenhouse gases in the atmosphere do?
A
- maintain temperatures on Earth high enough to support life
2
Q
What are examples of greenhouse gases?
A
- water vapour
- methane
- carbon dioxide
3
Q
What is the greenhouse effect in terms of radiation?
A
- electromagnetic radiation at most wavelengths from the sun pass through the Earth’s atmosphere
- Earth absorbs some radiation and warms up but other heat is radiated from the Earth as infrared radiation
4
Q
What happens to the infrared radiation that is radiated from the Earth?
A
- absorbed by greenhouse gases
- so atmosphere warms up leading to the greenhouse effect and global warming
