Global Warming
Finz 2012
What are greenhouse gases?
• N2 – Most abundant gas (78%)
– from volcanoes and decay.
• O2 – Second most abundant gas (21%)
– mostly by plants.
• Other gases
–
–
–
–
argon (0.93%)
carbon dioxide
methane
water vapor
• Also contains particulates.
What is the greenhouse effect?
• Sunlight penetrates atmosphere (warms
surface of Earth).
• Greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, and
nitrous oxide) and water vapor absorb
some radiation (rest is lost to space).
• Causes warming of the surface and lower
atmosphere of Earth
• Necessary for life to exist.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Global Warming and the
Greenhouse Effect
• Global warming refers to a rise in the
temperature of the surface of the Earth
• An increase in the concentration of
greenhouse gases leads to an increase in
the magnitude of the greenhouse effect –
this results in global warming
Carbon Dioxide vs Temperature