The Greenhouse Effect Flashcards
What is the greenhouse effect?
the process by which the Earth’s atmosphere traps heat from the sun, keeping the planet warm.
What would be the temperature of the Earth if it did not have the greenhouse effect?
-18 degrees celsius, causing all water to freeze and making it nearly impossible for life to exist.
How does the greenhouse effect work in the atmosphere?
The greenhouse effect in the atmosphere is caused by the presence of greenhouse gases, which trap heat and prevent it from escaping into space, thus keeping the Earth warm.
What are some of the greenhouse gases present in the Earth’s atmosphere?
- water vapor
- carbon dioxide
- methane
- nitrous oxide
- ozone
- chlorofluorocarbons.
How do greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere?
refracting and retaining infrared radiation (heat) within the Earth’s atmosphere.
How do visible photons and infrared photons interact with greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
- Visible photons are reflected by greenhouse gases
- infrared photons are refracted and retained as heat by greenhouse gases.
What factors contribute to the increase in the greenhouse effect?
Industrialization and the release of greenhouse gases from sources like melting permafrost and heating oceans contribute to the increase in the greenhouse effect.
What impact does the increase in greenhouse gases have on the greenhouse effect?
intensifies the greenhouse effect, leading to global climate change and rising temperatures.
How do increasing greenhouse gas levels lead to a self-perpetuating greenhouse effect?
Increasing greenhouse gas levels lead to a self-perpetuating greenhouse effect by causing more heat to be trapped, which in turn releases more greenhouse gases and exacerbates the warming effect.
Ice Cores
Cylindrical samples of ice drilled from glaciers and polar ice sheets, used to study the Earth’s climate and atmospheric composition.
Greenhouse Gases
Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range, contributing to the greenhouse effect.
Industrialization
The process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on manufacturing and industry.
Permafrost
A layer of soil, rock, or sediment that is frozen for more than two consecutive years, usually found in polar regions.
Melting Ice
The process by which ice transitions into liquid water, often due to an increase in temperature.
Global Climate Change
Long-term changes in the average temperature and weather patterns on Earth, attributed to human activities such as the release of greenhouse gases.
