C13.3 Greenhouse gases

Question 1

Why is some greenhouses needed?

Answer 1

Without carbon dioxide the Earth’s atmosphere would be -19 degrees

Question 2

How do greenhouses gases warm up the earth?

Answer 2

Greenhouses gases let short-wavelength radiation pass through.

The surface of the Earth cools down by emitting longer wavelength

Greenhouses gasses absorb infrared radiation and re-emit the radiation

Causing the radiation to be reflected over and over again - increasing the temperature

Question 3

Why has the concentration of greenhouses gases in the atmosphere increased?

Answer 3

Due to more fossil fuels being used to make electricity, heat and run cars

Question 4

What are the sources of Methane?

Answer 4

Methane gets into the atmosphere from swamps and rice fields

From the decomposing waste from cattle

Question 5

How can ice cores be a piece of hard evidence for climate change?

Answer 5

Ice cores have gases trapped inside
Scientist can analyse the trapped air to find how the composition of the gases in the atmosphere has changed over time
It suggests the current level of CO2 is higher than at any time in the last 440 000 years