Greenhouse basics
What is the greenhouse effect?
The natural process where greenhouse gases trap some outgoing infrared radiation and warm the Earth.
Can you name a greenhouse gas?
ANy one of: CO₂, methane, water vapour, nitrous oxide, etc.
What type of energy source produces large amounts of CO₂ when burned?
Fossil fuels
What happens when the enhanced greenhouse effect increases?
Global temperatures increase.
What happens to global temperatures when the concentration of greenhouse gases increases?
Global temperatures increase.
What type of radiation from the Sun reaches Earth’s surface?
Short-wave radiation / sunlight.
Which greenhouse gas is released in large quantities when fossil fuels are burned?
CO₂
What is one human activity that increases atmospheric CO₂?
Any one of these: Transport, electricity generation, industry, heating.
What is a possible impact of global warming?
Any one of: sea-level rise, melting glaciers/ice sheets, changing rainfall, more extreme heat, ecosystem disruption
What happens to more infrared radiation when there are more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
More infrared radiation is absorbed/trapped.
What happens to Earth’s surface when it absorbs solar radiation?
It warms up and then emits long-wave infrared radiation.
Name three greenhouse gases other than Carbon dioxide.
methane, water vapour, nitrous oxide
How does deforestation contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Trees absorb CO₂. Deforestation removes this carbon sink.
How can melting ice contribute to further warming?
Less ice means less solar radiation is reflected. More energy is absorbed by the darker land/ocean surface, increasing warming
Why does burning fossil fuels increase the enhanced greenhouse effect?
It releases CO₂, increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Why does Earth emit infrared radiation?
Because the warmed surface loses energy by emitting infrared radiation.
How does carbon dioxide contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect?
CO₂ absorbs outgoing infrared radiation
What is the link between intensive agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions?
Agriculture can release methane from livestock
How can climate change affect sea levels?
Warmer temperatures cause melting of land-based ice, contributing to sea-level rise.
Can you explain: burning fossil fuels → increased CO₂ → higher temperatures?
Burning fossil fuels releases CO₂ → CO₂ absorbs outgoing infrared radiation → less heat escapes to space → temperatures increase.
If there were no greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, what would happen to Earth?
Earth would be much colder
How does an increase in CO₂ can eventually lead to an increase in water vapour?
Increased CO₂ causes warming. Warmer temperatures increase evaporation, so more water vapour.
Can you give a reason why a country has reduced emissions from factories, but its CO₂ levels are still increasing?
Any one of increased transport emissions, deforestation, electricity generation using fossil fuels
Why could global warming cause some areas to experience more flooding while other areas experience more drought?
Climate change can alter rainfall patterns.
Why is the enhanced greenhouse effect described as a “positive feedback” process in some situations?
Increased greenhouse gases → warming → ice melts → less sunlight is reflected → more energy is absorbed by darker surfaces → further warming → more ice melts.