Greenhouse gases and acid rain Flashcards
Explain the “greenhouse effect”
When the sun releases SHORTWAVE radiation down to earth, some radiation is absorbed bit most is reflected off the earths surface, escaping back into space and LEAVING the atmosphere.
The rest of it however, is absorbed and TRAPPED by the greenhouses gases in out atmosphere and heats the earths temperature.
human activity, has rapidly increased the level of co2 in the atmosphere, causing a rise in greenhouse gases. Causing the earth to trap EXCESS heat, and the planet is getting too hot.
List the greenhouse gases
- Carbon dioxide
- Nitrous oxide
- Methane
Effects of global warming and the greenhouse gases
- species to become extinct
- polar ice caps melting, causing a rise in sea levels
- major change in ocean currents
- overall change in global weather patterns
Which human activity releases these greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide: burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil, including gasoline. Deforestation.
Methane: farming cattle releases methane
Nitrous oxide: fuel combustion causes nitrogen in the fuel or air to combine with oxygen in the air and form nitrous oxide.
What is acid rain?
Any form of precipitation with high levels of NITRIC and SULPHURIC acids.
- can occur in the form of snow, fog, rain etc
- humans are the main reason for acid rain
How does acid rain happen?
When fossil fuels are burnt, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere.
they react with water, oxygen and other substances to form sulphuric and nitric acids.
Winds then spread these acidic solutions or hundreds of miles.
Acid rain then falls to the earth, and enters systems as runoff and sinks to the ground.
Effects of acid rain
- this can make water toxic to aquatic life
- affects the food chain and also non-aquatic species
- robs soil of essential nutrients
- damages tree leaves, making it harder for trees to absorb h20.
How to reduce acid rain?
- using cleaner/renewable power plants and energy
- using fewer fossil fuels
