greenhouse gases Flashcards
what type of radiation passes from the sun through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth’s surface?
INFRARED
what type of energy and wavelength is reflected by the earths surface
lower energy, longer wavelength infrared radiation is reflected by earth’s surface
how do greenhouse gases increase the Earth’s temp
greenhouse gases absorb this outgoing infrared radiation which increases temp
what are the greenhouse gases
CO2, water vapour, methan (CH4)
what are the activities that increase the levels of methane in the atmosphere?
- decomposition of rubbish in landfill sites
- increase in animal farming (produced by animals during digestion and decomposition of their waste materials)
climate change is a good example of the popular media reporting on scientific ideas in a way that might be?
oversimplified, inaccurate or biased
-could be biased as people who are being paid by companies that produce greenhouse gases
if global temp increases, this could cause global climate change, impact of this:
- rise in sea levels, causing floods
- severe storms
- changes in amount and distribution of rainfall
- increase in heatwave events
- more droughts
- wildlife going extinct
- food shortages due to amount countries can produce (crops)
what is a carbon footprint of a product, service or event
total amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that are emitted over its full life cycle
how can carbon footprint be reduced
- using alternative energy supplies
- wasting less energy
- CCS to prevent co2 being released into atmosphere
- carbon taxes and licenses
what is CCS
carbon capture and storage
how could problems occur when reducing carbon footprint
- disagreements between scientists
- lack of knowledge
- reluctance from lifestyle changes from people
- economic
what is carbon off-setting
plant enough trees to balance out CO2 being produced
