chemistry of the atmosphere - the greenhouse effect

Question 1

what changes the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere

Answer 1

temperature

Question 2

how much do both carbon and methane take up in our atmosphere

Answer 2

carbon - 0.04%
methan - 0.0002%

Question 3

what are 3 green house gases

Answer 3

water vapor, methane and carbon dioxide

Question 4

examples of short wavelength variation

Answer 4

ultra violet and visible light

Question 5

explain the greenhouse effect

Answer 5

• energy from the sun travels to the earth as short wavelength radiation
• this radiation then either gets reflected back into space or passes through the atmosphere
• the energy of radiation is absorbed when it reaches the surface of earth
• the surface of the earth now radiates this energy as long wave lengths e.g. intra- red
• the energy is absorbed
• energy is trapped causing a rise in temperature

Question 6

what is one key fact about the greenhouse effect

Answer 6

the greenhouse effect actually keeps the temperature on earth warm enough to support life