The Greenhouse Effect

Question 1

what has increased rapidly over the last 150 years

Answer 1

the human population

Question 2

what does an increase in human population lead to an increase in

Answer 2

• lighting, heating, transport and cooking

- which all require an increase in energy use

Question 3

with the average energy demand per person increasing in our modern age, what has it increased to meet our demands and where does it come from

Answer 3

increased energy consumption coming mainly from burning fossil fuels

Question 4

what is the effect of increasing the use of fossil fuels

Answer 4

more CO2 is released into the atmosphere

Question 5

how is an increase in population and deforestation linked

Answer 5

• an increase in population means more space is needed for housing and growing food
• so trees are cut down to build these things, which is deforestation

Question 6

what do fewer plants result in and why

Answer 6

• fewer plants results in less CO2 being taken out of our atmosphere
• because plants are the main things that take CO2 out of the air

Question 7

what, other than fossil fuels, is another method of CO2 being released into the atmosphere

Answer 7

volcanoes erupting

Question 8

what happens to the electromagnetic radiation the sun emits towards the earth

Answer 8

• some of it, at most wavelengths, passes through the atmosphere
• the electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths is absorbed by the earth, which warms our planet

Question 9

what does the earth do to some of the radiation it absorbs

Answer 9

it radiates some of the heat radiation as longer wavelength radiation (infrared)

Question 10

what happens to some of the heat radiation the earth radiates

Answer 10

some if it is absorbed by the greenhouse gases

Question 11

what do the greenhouse gases do with the remaining radiation that they havent absorbed from the earth

Answer 11

it is reflected back to the earth

Question 12

after the greenhouse gases have reflected some radiation back at the earth, what happens to the radiation the earth doesnt absorb

Answer 12

it is re emitted back into space

Question 13

what keeps the earth warm (dont just say the greenhouse effect)

Answer 13

the absorption and reflection of infrared radiation by greenhouse gases

Question 14

what are greenhouse gases

Answer 14

• gases in the atmosphere that can absorb and reflect heat radiation
• they are only present in small amounts

Question 15

what are some examples of greenhouse gases

Answer 15

• carbon dioxide
• water vapour
• methane

Question 16

what happens when the concentration of greenhouse gases increases

Answer 16

• you get an enhanced greenhouse gas effect
• which is where more heat is absorbed by the earth than is re emitted back into space
• this causes the atmosphere to heat up