What do greenhouse gases do to make the earth warmer?
They trap heat and maintain a warm temperature on earth.
Name a surface on Earth that is likely to absorb radiation from the Sun. Why?
What is the most important greenhouse gas emitted by humans?
Carbon dioxide
Are greenhouse gases essential for life? Why or why not?
Yes, trapping heat allows life to sustain.
Why might some cities paint the roofs of buildings white?
White reflects which decreases temperatures
Oceans are the largest __________________?
Carbon sink
What is a carbon sink?
Stores/removes CO2 in the atmosphere
What would the world be like without greenhouse gases?
Cold!
Does the ozone layer absorb or reflect UV radiation from the Sun?
Absorb
What is coral bleaching and why is it important?
Corals lose color and turn white. Corals are a common food source, used as building materials, habitat for fish, etc. When they bleach, they can die.
What is a carbon footprint?
The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere because of one’s own energy consumption
Over the years, are the worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases increase or decreasing? Why?
Increasing, population increasing.
Define albedo.
An expression/percentage of a surface’s ability to reflect sunlight.
What causes ocean acidity?
Excessive CO2
How can we reduce a carbon footprint?
Turn off lights; drive less and carpool; use energy efficient appliances; buy local goods and locally grown foods; use renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal); recycle and reduce
How do fossil fuels affect greenhouse gas emissions?
Burning fossil fuels results in more CO2 (a.k.a. greenhouse gas) which warms Earth
Does a higher percentage of albedo mean there is more absorbance or reflectivity?
Reflectivity
How do warming oceans affect weather-related natural disasters?
More extreme storms (hurricanes, floods, etc.)
Does this graph show carbon dioxide concentration to be increasing or decreasing?
Increasing