Climate change - Earths Atmosphere

Question 1

Where does carbon dioxide and methane trap energy from?
What does this mean?

Answer 1

Trap energy from the sun.
Means that not all of energy is lost into space, helping earth keep warm.

Question 2

What is global warming?

Answer 2

Increase of greenhouse gases causing earth to heat up.

Question 3

What could be the result of global warming?

Answer 3

Flooding due to melted ice caps and therefore loss of habitats.

Change in the distribution of species, as species that do well in warm conditions are spreading further, and species in cooler temperatures have smaller area to live in.

Less biodiversity due to extinction

Changes in migration patterns (where animals move in different seasons)

Question 4

What are three greenhouse gases?

Answer 4

Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor.

Question 5

Explain steps of thermal radiation heating things up in the earth, (global warming)

Answer 5

1. sun gives out short wavelength radiation.
2. this is reflected back by the earth as long wavelength radiation, this is thermal radiation which is absorbed by greenhouse gases.
3. Greenhouse gases give out radiation in all directions.
4. Some radiation heads back towards earth and warms up surface - greenhouse effect.

Question 6

What are four human things that have increased amount of greenhouse gases?

Answer 6

Deforestation
Burning fossil fuels
Argiculture
Creating waste

Question 7

What changes in weather is caused by global warming?

Answer 7

More warm - sea levels rise.
Changes in rainfall - some regions get too much or too little water.
Storms may become more frequent and severe.