Greenhouse Effect Flashcards
1
Q
What is the greenhouse effect?
A
A natural process where gases and clouds absorb infrared radiation from Earth’s surface and radiate it to heat Earth’s surface and atmosphere
2
Q
What is a greenhouse gas?
A
A gas in the atmosphere that absorbs lower energy infrared radiation
3
Q
What are the greenhouse gases?
A
Water vapour Carbon dioxide Methane Ozone Nitrous Oxide
4
Q
Where can each greenhouse gas be found?
A
Water Vapour - clouds, fog
Carbon Dioxide - burning fossil fuels, cellular respiration, wildfires
Methane - livestock, agriculture, landfill, permafrost melting
Ozone- exhaust, stratosphere
Nitrous Oxide - bacteria decomposing dead matter
5
Q
What is the evidence of climate change?
A
Temperature rise Ocean acidity Glaciers and ice sheets melting Oceans warming Arctic sea ice is decreasing Intense weather Sea levels rise
6
Q
What are clues to indicate past climate?
A
Ice cores (bubbles of atmospheric gas) Tree rings (a ring is thickest when the conditions are good to grow) Coral layers (layer show temperature when each layer grew) Rocks (fossils and plant pollen)
