GREENHOUSE GASSES U7

Question 1

What are Greenhouse Gases?

Answer 1

Human activities are significantly contributing to the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to various impacts on the Earth’s climate system
Increased levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapour result from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes

Question 2

Sources of GHG

Answer 2

• Carbon dioxide
• Methane
• Water Vapor

Question 3

Carbon dioxide

Answer 3

Main sources include the combustion of fossil fuels for energy generation, transportation, and industrial processes

Deforestation and land-use changes, such as clearing forests for agriculture or urbanisation, contribute to CO2 emissions indirectly by reducing the planet’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis

Question 4

Methane

Answer 4

Produced by natural processes like the decomposition of organic matter in wetlands, forests, and oceans

Human activities such as agriculture (particularly rice cultivation and livestock farming), coal mining, oil and gas extraction, and waste management (landfills) contribute to methane emissions

Question 5

Water Vapor

Answer 5

Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and its concentration is primarily determined by temperature and humidity levels

While human activities do not directly emit water vapour as a greenhouse gas, they can indirectly influence its levels through activities that affect temperature and moisture, such as deforestation, land-use changes, and the burning of fossil fuels that release other greenhouse gases

Question 6

Effects of Greenhouse Gases

Answer 6

These greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise, leading to global warming
The increase in mean global temperature has wide-ranging effects, including melting ice caps and glaciers, shifts in precipitation patterns, and changes in ecosystem dynamics
The higher concentration of greenhouse gases is contributing to the intensification of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall
Long-term changes in climate and weather patterns occur as a result of the altered energy balance in the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans
Rising greenhouse gas levels also contribute to the thermal expansion of seawater and the melting of land-based ice, resulting in sea level rise
The combination of increased global temperatures and rising sea levels poses significant risks to coastal communities, low-lying regions, and ecosystems
It is essential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and implement strategies to adapt to the changing climate to minimise the potential impacts on the planet and human societies