Human Causes of Climate Change

Question 1

What is infrared radiation?

Answer 1

Infrared radiation is the longwave radiation that is absorbed by greenhouse gases (GHG).

Question 2

What is the longwave radiation that is absorbed by greenhouse gases (GHG).

Answer 2

This is infrared radiation/insolation.

Question 3

What are greenhouse gases?

Answer 3

Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation.

Question 4

What are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation?

Answer 4

These are greenhouse gases.

Question 5

Name four greenhouse gases in order of the amount of heat they absorb and re-radiate per molecule.

Answer 5

Water vapour (H2O), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4).

Question 6

How much more effective is methane and nitrous oxide at absorbing and re-radiating greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide?

Answer 6

Methane is 23 times more effective at absorbing and re-radiating greenhouse gases, while nitrous oxide is 296 times more effect than CO2.

Question 7

What are the two types of greenhouse effects?

Answer 7

Natural greenhouse effect and enhanced greenhouse effect.

Question 8

When the sun releases insolation directed at Earth with the natural greenhouse effect?

Answer 8

The insolation enters the atmosphere and reflects of the Earth, and then hits the edge of the atmosphere where there are greenhouse gases, making insolation be absorbed and re-radiated. Eventually, the insolation will be reflected of Earth into space.

Question 9

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 9

The enhanced greenhouse effect is the impact on the climate from the additional heat retained due to increased greenhouse gases released by humans.

Question 10

What is the impact on the climate from the additional heat retained due to increased greenhouse gases released by humans?

Answer 10

The enhanced greenhouse effect.

Question 11

Explain what happens different from the natural greenhouse effect with the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 11

In the natural greenhouse effect, the infrared radiation is absorbed and re-radiated by the greenhouse effect only a few times, however in the enhanced greenhouse effect the infrared radiation is absorbed and re-radiated much more.

Question 12

Most electricity is still generated by? And this produces?

Answer 12

Most electricity is still generated by fossil fuels: burning coal, crude oil and natural gas. This produces by carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.

Question 13

Manufacturing and industry produce emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels to produce energy for making commodities like…

Answer 13

Cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothes, and other goods.

Question 14

What three things use the most fossil fuels?

Answer 14

Generating electricity or heat, deforestation and transportation are the main uses of fossil fuels.

Question 15

What type of vehicle accounts for the most of transportation emissions, and why?

Answer 15

Road vehicles account for the largest part, due to the combustion of petroleum-based products.

Question 16

Transport accounts for what percent of global emissions?

Answer 16

Transport accounts for nearly 25% of all energy-related global emissions.

Question 17

What do trends point to about energy use for transport?

Answer 17

Trends point to a significant increase in energy use for transport over the coming years as countries around the world continue to develop.

Question 18

Each year, how many hectares of forest are destroyed?

Answer 18

Each year, around 12 millions hectares of forest are destroyed.

Question 19

What consumes the most of all electricity?

Answer 19

Globally, residential and commercial buildings consume over half of all electricity.

Question 20

What factors have contributed to a rise in energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions from buildings particularly from newly emerging economies?

Answer 20

The world has seen a growing energy demand for heating and cooling, with rising air-conditioner ownership, as well as increased electricity consumption for lighting, appliances, and connected devices.