Climate Change - Greenhouse Effect

Question 1

Is the Greenhouse effect naturally occuring or manmade?

Answer 1

The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring effect.

Question 2

What happens to thermal energy in the greenhouse effect?

Answer 2

Thermal energy is trapped in the earths lower atmosphere by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2).

Question 3

In the greenhouse effect, what percentage of energy is radiated back towards earth?

Answer 3

Energy from the sun bounces off the earth’s surface as some of this energy is absorbed by the gases forming the atmosphere.

Roughly 30% of this absorbed energy is then radiated back towards the earth.

Question 4

What is the average temperature of the earth due to the greenhouse effect?

Answer 4

This effect causes the earth’s average temperature to be around 15°C.

Question 5

Without the greenhouse effect, what would the earth’s average temperature be and what would be the effect on animal life?

Answer 5

Without the natural greenhouse effect, the earth’s average temperature would be around -18°C. This would be far too cold to sustain many forms of life.

Question 6

What is the ‘enhanced greenhouse effect’?

Answer 6

A build of CO2 and other greenhouse gases has led to less heat escaping. This is known as the enhanced Greenhouse Effect and has led to a an increase in average global temperatures and climate change.

Question 7

What size wavelengths are absorbed by the Earth in the greenhouse effect?

Answer 7

The Earth absorbs the radiation with the short wavelengths and warms up.

Question 8

What happens to the longer wavelength infrared radiation?

Answer 8

Longer wavelength infrared radiation bounces off the Earth’s surface.