Greenhouse Gases
What is one major greenhouse gas that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide
Which human activity increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Burning fossil fuels
deforestation
driving cars
Why do scientists use computer models to study Earth’s climate?
To simulate how climate changes over time
What is one consequence of climate change?
More frequent extreme weather
Ice melting
Hotter temperatures
Which natural process removes carbon dioxide from the air?
photosynthesis
Why is methane considered a powerful greenhouse gas?
It traps more heat than carbon dioxide
How does deforestation contribute to climate change?
Fewer trees absorb less carbon dioxide
photosynthesis cannot happen anymore to turn CO2 into oxygen
What happens when more carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere?
More energy is trapped in Earth’s atmosphere
Why is glacier melting a concern in climate science?
It contributes to sea level rise
Which fossil fuel is most commonly used for electricity in the U.S.?
(coal, oil, natural gas)
natural gas
What gas is released when fossil fuels like coal and gasoline are burned?
Carbon dioxide
How can public transportation reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
It reduces the number of individual car trips
If more energy enters the Earth system than leaves, what might happen?
Earth’s climate warms
What is the best way reduce global warming?
A. burning coal
B. building roads
C. switching to renewable energy
D. cut down more trees to build homes
Switching to renewable energy
What is the law of conservation of matter?
Matter cannot be created or destroyed.
When carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere, the Earth’s surface...
Absorbs more energy
Why is it important to reduce fossil fuel use?
Burning fossil fuels adds carbon dioxide to the air
What does a long-term rise in global temperature suggest?
Earth is undergoing global warming
What role do oceans play in Earth’s climate?
a. they release carbon dioxide
b. they trap methane
c. they store heat and carbon dioxide
d. they reflect sunlight
They store heat and carbon dioxide
What happens during combustion of CH₄ (methane)? It forms....
a. more methane
b. carbon dioxide and water vapor
c. nitrogen
it forms carbon dioxide and water
What do greenhouse gases do in the Earth system?
Trap energy and warm the Earth
What does a human factor in climate change look like? Think factories.
Burning coal for electricity or energy
What is the trend shown in global temperature graphs from 1880 to today?
Gradual increase in temperature
Which type of data is least helpful to determine long-term climate change?
(100 years of solar energy levels, 2000 years of sea levels, 70 years of CO2 levels, or 2 years of glacier size)
2 years of glacier size
How does the number of atoms change in methane combustion?
The number of atoms stays the same