C9: Greenhouse Gases And Climate Change

Question 1

Give some examples of greenhouse gases.

Answer 1

Carbon dioxide
Methane
Water vapour

Question 2

What do greenhouse gases do?

Answer 2

Act like an insulating later in the atmosphere - allows the earth to be warm enough to support life

Question 3

How do the greenhouse gases absorb particles?

Answer 3

Don’t absorb the sun’s incoming short wavelength radiation
But absorb the long wavelength radiation which reflects back off the earth
Then reradiates it in all directions including back at earth
The longwave radiation is thermal so it results in warming of the surfaces of the earth = the greenhouse effect

Question 4

What human activities affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 4

Deforestation: less CO2 removed
Burning fossil fuels: release CO2
Agriculture: methane
Creating waste: CO2 and methane from decomposition

Question 5

What consequences could climate change have?

Answer 5

Increase of global temp - polar ice caps melting -> rise in sea levels, increased flooding & coastal erosion
Change in rainfall patterns - droughts / floods
Frequency & severity of storms may increase
Change in temperature and amount of water available - affect wild species