Global Warming Flashcards
greenhouse effect?
warming that results from solar radiation trapped by the atmosphere
Processes of Global warming
- solar energy enters atmosphere
- atmosphere contains greenhouse gases
- solar radiation (uv, xray, gamma) pass thru greenhouse gases
- solar radiation warms earth surface and heat (infrared rad) rises
- some infrared rad passes thru greenh gases and into space
- some infrared rad is absorbed by greenh gases and re- radiated back to earth causing rise in temp
- greenh gases
causes of greenhouse effect
water vapour co2 gas nox gas sox gas ch4 - methane gas
global warming
sustained increase in avg temp of the earth sufficient to cause climate chg
what other planet experienced greenhouse effects?
venus
surface pressure 90x earth
sulf acid clouds
surface temp 500C
describe greenhouse effect on venus?
water evaporation
water stays in atm
co2 unable to be removedf rom atmosphere after water evap
quantity of co2 caused temp to soar to 500C
earth atmosphere
troposhere- where climate chg happens stratosphere - layered air masses mesophere - middle of earth atmosphere thermosphere - thermal ionosphere - charged exosphere - outer
solar wind?
high speed charged particles constantly blowing off the sun
cloud levels
cirr. 6000m. - ice crystals
alto. 2000-6000m. water drops
nimbo < 2000m water drops maybe snow
contrails
condensation trails from planes
condensed water vapours
water drops freeze before they can evaporate
earth’s oceans
how much co2 does it absorb?
soak up 25% of CO2 produced
what is ventilation?
seawater flows and mixes and drags absorbed CO2 from surface to the depths
effects of global warming
rising sea levels
droughts
polar ice caps melt
climate change
source of greenh gases
co2
nox
methane
fluorocarbons
