EXAM 1

Question 1

Define greenhouse gases

Answer 1

a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect (trapping heat) by absorbing infared radiation. Ex: carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons

Question 2

Name four major greenhouse gases or types of gases

Answer 2

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor

Question 3

What are the primary source of emissions for carbon dioxide

Answer 3

fossil fuels

Question 4

What are the primary source of emissions for methane

Answer 4

agriculture

Question 5

What are the primary source of emissions for nitrous oxide

Answer 5

transportation emissions

Question 6

What are the primary source of emissions for water vapor

Answer 6

evaporation of bodies of water vapor

Question 7

Describe the measurement GWP

Answer 7

Global warmimng potential. an index to measure how much infrared thermal radiation a greenhouse gas would absorb over a given time

Question 8

Describe how greenhouse gas emissions have changed both locally and globally since 1990 and name the sources of these emissions

Answer 8

there has been a 3% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990, transportation is the main source of these emissions

Question 9

Describe the overall trend in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmoshpere using the measurement ppm

Answer 9

there is an overall upward trend in the ppm of carbon dioxide in the air, in 1979 there were about 337 ppm of carbon the the atmosphere, there is now around 417 ppm of carbon in the atmosphere

Question 10

Explain why the amount of carbon dioxide fluctuates in the levels each year

Answer 10

vegetation growth and photosynthesis varies year to year

Question 11

Describe how carbon dioxide cycles in the biosphere

Answer 11

plants exchange carbon with the atmosphere, most carbon is absorbed into the roots, and then carbon is released back out when the plant dies

Question 12

Describe the carbon cycles effect on the ocean

Answer 12

surface waters exchange gases with the atmosphere, absorbing and releasing carbon dioxide, oxygen, and other gases. Phytoplankton aslo convert carbon dioxide into sugars, helping, marine ecosystems.

Question 13

Describe how water vapor acts to increase the warming caused by other greenhouse gases

Answer 13

as the earth warms, water evaporates, and becomes more abundant in the earths atmosphere, and then the water vapor traps heat

Question 14

Describe the scientific consensus on global warming

Answer 14

that it is “unequivocal” and “inconvertible” that the greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have caused warming on land, in the oceans and in the troposphere