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Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change
GREENHOUSE GASES like CARBON DIOXIDE, METHANE, and WATER VAPOUR are crucial for maintaining the Earth's temperature by trapping heat in the atmosphere. This is known as the GREENHOUSE EFFECT.
The Greenhouse Effect:
- RADIATION from the Sun reaches the Earth as SHORT-WAVELENGTH RADIATION, which is absorbed by the Earth's surface and then re-emitted as LONG-WAVELENGTH RADIATION.
- Some of this longer-wavelength radiation is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases in the ATMOSPHERE, warming the planet.
Human Impact on Greenhouse Gases:
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere maintain temperatures on Earth high enough to support life, however human activities have increased their amounts. For example:
FOSSIL FUEL COMBUSTION
- Coal, crude oil and natural gas are all fossil fuels that humans use for transport and electricity generation.
- The COMBUSTION of these fuels released the ‘LOCKED UP’ Carbon into the atmosphere as CARBON DIOXIDE.
AGRICULTURE:
- Farm animals such as COWS release METHANE into the atmosphere due to their digestive processes.
DEFORESTATION:
- Cutting down trees has meant there are fewer trees that PHOTOSYNTHESISE. This means that LESS Carbon Dioxide is TAKEN IN from the atmosphere.
Global Climate Change
Too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere INCREASES the greenhouse effect which can lead to GLOBAL WARMING.
This is when there is an INCREASE in the AVERAGE global temperature of the Earth.
This can lead to many problems such as:
- MELTING POLAR ICE CAPS.
- RISING SEA LEVELS leading to FLOODING.
- EXTREME WEATHER.
- LOSS of ANIMAL HABITAT.
Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change
GREENHOUSE GASES like CARBON DIOXIDE, METHANE, and WATER VAPOUR are crucial for maintaining the Earth's temperature by trapping heat in the atmosphere. This is known as the GREENHOUSE EFFECT.
The Greenhouse Effect:
- RADIATION from the Sun reaches the Earth as SHORT-WAVELENGTH RADIATION, which is absorbed by the Earth's surface and then re-emitted as LONG-WAVELENGTH RADIATION.
- Some of this longer-wavelength radiation is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases in the ATMOSPHERE, warming the planet.
Human Impact on Greenhouse Gases:
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere maintain temperatures on Earth high enough to support life, however human activities have increased their amounts. For example:
FOSSIL FUEL COMBUSTION
- Coal, crude oil and natural gas are all fossil fuels that humans use for transport and electricity generation.
- The COMBUSTION of these fuels released the ‘LOCKED UP’ Carbon into the atmosphere as CARBON DIOXIDE.
AGRICULTURE:
- Farm animals such as COWS release METHANE into the atmosphere due to their digestive processes.
DEFORESTATION:
- Cutting down trees has meant there are fewer trees that PHOTOSYNTHESISE. This means that LESS Carbon Dioxide is TAKEN IN from the atmosphere.
Global Climate Change
Too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere INCREASES the greenhouse effect which can lead to GLOBAL WARMING.
This is when there is an INCREASE in the AVERAGE global temperature of the Earth.
This can lead to many problems such as:
- MELTING POLAR ICE CAPS.
- RISING SEA LEVELS leading to FLOODING.
- EXTREME WEATHER.
- LOSS of ANIMAL HABITAT.
