P2c-Global Warming

Question 1

What are some greenhouse gases?

Answer 1

• carbon dioxide
• water vapour
• methane

Question 2

What radiation does the earth absorb and what effect does it have?

Answer 2

Earth absorbs short wavelength em radiation from the sun which heats the earth

Question 3

What radiation does the earth emit?

Answer 3

The earth radiates heat as longer wavelength infrared radiation

Question 4

What do greenhouse gases do?

Answer 4

• Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation emitted by the earth
• the gases re radiate heat back towards the earth

Question 5

What are some reasons for climate change?

Answer 5

• increased energy use
• increased CO2 emissions
• deforestation

Question 6

What are some human causes for changes to weather?

Answer 6

• rising CO2 levels

- soot and gases produced by factories can reflect heat from cities back down to earth causing warming

Question 7

What are some natural causes for changes in weather?

Answer 7

• volcanic ash and gases reflecting radiation from the sun back into space causing cooling
• changes in orbit round the sun causes ice age

Question 8

What evidence supports the idea of man-made global warming?

Answer 8

• link between concentration of CO2 and global temperature

- rise in CO2 is causing global warming by increasing greenhouse effect

Question 9

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 9

gases in the earths atmosphere prevent heat from radiating into space