4.4 Climate change

Question 1

What are the greenhouse gases + examples?

Answer 1

Greenhouse gases absorb and emit long-wave (infrared) radiation, thereby trapping and holding heat within the atmosphere (warming effect)

H2O, CO2, CH4, NO2

Question 2

What are the characteristics whihc determine how strong is the greenhouse gas?

Answer 2

1. Ability to absorb long-wave radiatino
2. Conc in the atmosphere

Question 3

Explain greehouse effect

Answer 3

Greenhouse effect is a natural process whereby the atmosphere behaves like a greenhouse to trap and retain heat

It ensures:

• Earth maintains the moderate temperatures needed by organisms to maintain life processes (homeostasis)
• Without a greenhouse effect, Earth’s temperatures would drop significantly at night in the absence of direct sunlight
  1. Waves from Sun - shorter (UV)
  2. Earth’s surface absorbes short wavelength - re-emits long wavelength
  3. Greenhouse gases absorbe the longer wavelength and re-emit back to Earth - retain heat of the planet

Question 4

Explain climate change

Answer 4

Greenhouse gas conc has increased in atmosphere (CO2 - industrialisation) -> enhanced greenhouse effect -> more heat is trapped -> climate is warming across the wolrd

Positive correlation between CO2 conc and global warming

Question 5

Explain ocean acidification problem

Answer 5

Oceans are CO2 sink - absorb 1/3 of human produced CO2 - as temp of oceans increases -less CO2 dissolves - accumulated in oceans as gas - lower pH - less carbonate ions in oceans - less available ions for exoskeletons - threatens coral reefs, other marine life

Question 6

What are the claims and counterclaims for greenhouse debate>

Answer 6