The Greenhouse Effect
Examples of greenhouse gases
Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Water vapor, Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Halocarbons
Global temperature and climate patterns are influenced by what?
Concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
What correlation can be seen between temperature and CO2 atmospheric concentration?
A positive correlation (as CO2 concentration increases, so does temperature)
What happens to the Ocean water pH as Atmospheric CO2 increases?
It decreases (becomes more acidic)
Which factors determine the impact of a greenhouse gas?
1. It's (the gas's) ability to absorb long-wave radiation
2. It's (the gas's) concentration in the atmosphere
Give an example of human activities that cause increases in carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gas concentrations.
Burning fossil fuels, cattle ranching, deforestation, etc.
What has the combustion of fossilized organic matter (coal, oil, gas) led to?
An increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations
In what ways does increasing acidity (lowering pH) impact coral?
Lowering pH can kill coral polyps and dissolve existing corals
Explain the role of short wave and long wave radiation in the Greenhouse effect.
Radiation emitted from the sun is predominantly short wave-length. It passes through the atmosphere where it is absorbed and converted to heat. The Earth then re-emits the radiation, as long wavelengths (Infrared rays), a large percentage of which get trapped by greenhouse gases. This causes warming.
What argument do people use to dispute climate change?
Whether global warming and climate changes are due to human released greenhouse gases.
Technique for analysing CO2 concentrations over the past few hundred years
Drilling ice columns and analyzing air bubbles
Why do increased CO2 levels negatively impact coral and mollusks?
When CO2 is absorbed by the ocean, it reacts with the water to form carbonic acid and hydrogen ions. These Hydrogen ions bond with carbonate, preventing the carbonate from being used to form exoskeletons of marine organisms.