The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

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The Temperature Structure of Earth’s Atmosphere

Exosphere: Heated by UV and X-rays from space

Thermosphere: Heated by X-rays from space

Stratosphere: Heated by UV radiation from space

Troposphere: Heated by greenhouse effect

Ozone Layer

Atmosphere gets colder at larger distance from heat sources.

Top of Ozone Layer

Which type of radiation from the sun will not be absorbed in the Earth’s atmosphere and can

thus heat the Earth’s surface?

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

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1) Infrared radiation.

2) Visible light.

3) Ultraviolet radiation.

4) X-rays.

5) Gamma-rays.

In which form is the Earth giving off heat energy?

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

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1) Infrared radiation.

2) Visible light.

3) Ultraviolet radiation.

4) Convection.

5) Mechanical energy.

What happens to the infrared radiation re-emitted by the Earth’s surface in the troposphere?

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

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1) Nothing. It will escape into space.

2) It is reflected back onto the Earth’s surface.

3) It gets scattered several times before it escapes into space.

4) It is absorbed.5) It is transformed back into

visible light.

The Greenhouse Effect

Earth’s surface is heated by the sun’s

(visible) light.

Heat energy is re-radiated from Earth’s surface as

infrared radiation.

CO2, but also other gases in the atmosphere, absorb

infrared light

→ Heat is trapped in the atmosphere.

Which of the following is another greenhouse gas (in addition to CO2)?

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

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1) Oxygen (O2).

2) Nitrogen (N2).

3) Water vapor (H2O).

4) Sulfuric acid (H2SO4).

5) Hydrogen (H2).

Gases consisting of compounds of two or more different types of atoms:

• CO2 (carbon dioxide)

• H2O (water vapor)

• CH4 (methane)

• NH3 (Ammonia)

Greenhouse Gases

Most common gases in Earth’s atmosphere (N2, O2) do not contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Does the greenhouse effect occur naturally?

1) 2)

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1) Yes.

2) No.

The Greenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse Effect occurs naturally and is essential to maintain a comfortable temperature on Earth,

but human activity, in particular CO2 emissions from cars and industrial plants, is drastically increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases.

Global Warming

• Human activity (CO2 emissions + deforestation) is drastically increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases.

• As a consequence, beyond any reasonable doubt, the average temperature on Earth is increasing.

• This is called Global Warming

Which was the hottest year on history since 1880?

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

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1) 1900

2) 1952

3) 1975

4) 1999

5) 2005

Consequences of Global Warming• Melting of glaciers and polar ice caps

(→ rising sea water levels; rivers and fresh-water reservoirs will dry out!)

Glacier National Park: Melting Glaciers

1911

2000Melting ice cap at Antarctica (South Pole): Temperature

increase by 4.5 0F since 1945

Consequences of Global Warming• Global climate changes: Extended droughts; El

Niño

Dry lake near Orlando, Florida

Alaska: Permafrost subsiding: Warming by 3.5 0F since 1960

Consequences of Global Warming

• Impacts on plant and animal life

Dwindling penguin populations in Antarctica

Olympic Mountains: Tree populations invading mountain meadow

Consequences of Global Warming

• Impacts on plant and animal life

Dying coral reefs

In which atmospheric layer is ultraviolet radiation from space primarily absorbed?

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

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1) The Troposphere

2) The Stratosphere

3) The Thermosphere

4) The Exosphere

5) The Magnetosphere

Which molecule in the atmosphere is mainly responsible for the absorption of ultraviolet radiation from space?

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

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1) Normal Oxygen (O2)

2) Ozone (O3)

3) Nitrogen (N2)

4) Hydrogen (H2)

5) Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Which compound (used in some industrial processes like refrigeration and air conditioning)

is destroying Ozone in the atmosphere?

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

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1) Lead

2) CFCs

3) Water

4) Sulfuric Acid

5) Sulfur Dioxide

The destruction of the ozone layer is currently most obvious above …

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1. Central North America.

2. The North Pole.

3. The South Pole.

4. Central Asia.

5. Africa.

The Destruction of the Ozone Layer

Ozone (= O3) absorbs UV radiation (which has damaging effects on human and animal tissue), causing the heating of the stratosphere.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) (used, e.g., in industrial processes,

refrigeration and air conditioning) destroy the Ozone layer.

Destruction of the ozone layer as a consequence of human activity is proven (e.g., growing ozone hole

above the Antarctic);

Must be stopped and reversed by reducing CFC use, especially in

developed countries!