C9: GREENHOUSE GASES AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Question 1

What are the greenhouse gases?

Answer 1

-CO2
-methane
-water vapour

Question 2

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 2

the retention of heat in the atmosphere caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases

Question 3

What causes the greenhouse effect?

Answer 3

-sun emits short wavelength radiation (UV)
-earth heats up and emits long wavelength radiation (IR)
-greenhouse gases absorb long wavelength radiation and emit it in all directions
-some long wavelength radiation is reabsorbed by the earth and heats it up

Question 4

How do human activities increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere?

Answer 4

-burning fossil fuels releases CO2 (combustion)
-deforestation (les trees to take in CO2)

Question 5

How do human activities increase the amount of methane in the atmosphere?

Answer 5

-cattle farming (cattle produce methane)
-decomposition of waste in landfill releases methane