The greenhouse effect
Without The gases responsible for global warming - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). in its The layers of gases that surround the Earth. The important gases in the atmosphere are nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide., the mean temperature on Earth would be about -18°C. That would make it too cold to support life as we know it.
Greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere include:
- water Vapour is a cloud of liquid particles. Steam is water vapour.
- A gaseous compound of carbon and oxygen, which is a by-product of respiration, and which is needed by plants for photosynthesis.
- A colourless gas that can do harm to life forms.
These greenhouse gases:
- Absorb heat radiated from the Earth
- then release The capacity of a system to do work or the quantity required for mechanical work to take place. Measured in joules (J). For example, a man transfers 100 J of energy when moving a wheelbarrow. in all directions, which keeps the Earth warm
The diagram gives more details about this process, called the The retention of heat in the atmosphere caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases..
How the greenhouse effect works
- electromagnetic radiation at most wavelengths passes through the Earth's atmosphere
- the Earth absorbs most of the radiation and warms up
- the Earth radiates energy as infrared radiation
- some of the infrared radiation goes into space
- some of the infrared radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
- the lower atmosphere warms up
Question
Name three greenhouse gases.
Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour.