GREENHOUSE GASES, THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT, & ANTHROPOGENIC CLIMATE CHANGE
Source: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/multimedia.html
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
The greenhouse effect is a process caused by _________________ ____________, which occur naturally in
the atmosphere. This process plays a crucial role in _______________ the Earth's surface, making it habitable.
However, _______________-generated greenhouse gas emissions upset the natural balance and lead to
__________________ warmth.
How does this process work?
Incoming Energy
First, the _________ emits energy that is transmitted to __________. Because the Sun is very hot, the energy
is emitted in high-energy short wavelengths that penetrate the Earth's _______________________.
Absorption
About 30% of the Sun's energy is _______________ directly back into space by the atmosphere, clouds, and
surface of the Earth. The rest of the Sun's energy is __________________ into the Earth's system.
Emission
The Earth _____________ energy into the atmosphere. Because the Earth is cooler than the Sun, the energy is
emitted in the form of __________________ radiation, at wavelengths longer than the incoming solar energy.
Role of Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere _______________ much of the long-wave energy emitted from the
Earth's surface, preventing it from immediately _________________ from the Earth's system. The greenhouse
gases then _______________ this energy in all directions, warming the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere.
Human Role
The atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases has _________________ over the past two centuries,
largely due to human-generated carbon dioxide emissions from burning _______________ ______________.
This increase has amplified the natural greenhouse effect by _________________ more of the energy emitted
by the Earth. This change causes Earth's surface ________________________ to _________________.
MAIN GREENHOUSE GASES
Gas
Major
Sources
Amount
Released
per Year
(millions of
tons)
5,500
Average Time
in the
Atmosphere
Global
Warming
Potential*
(over 100
years)
1
Pre-industrial
Concentration
(around 1860)
(ppb)
Average
Concentration
now
(ppb)
Expected
Concentration
in 2030
(ppb)
290,000
350,000
500,000
500
21
850
1,700
2,300
30
310
.001 to 7
.001 to 50
.001 to 50
1
1500-8100
0
about 3
2.4 to 6
N/A
about 45
N/A
N/A
N/A
*Global Warming Potential is a relative measure of how much ___________ a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere. It compares the amount of
heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of ________________ _________________.
TEN SIGNS OF A WARMING WORLD
Source: http://cpo.noaa.gov/warmingworld/images/TenSignsofaWarmingWorld.jpg
Arctic Sea Ice_____
Global Sea Level_____
Ocean Heat Content_____ Air Temperature Over the Ocean_____
Humidity_____
Air Temperature Over Land_____
Sea Surface Temperature_____
Temperature of the Lower Atmosphere_____
Snow_____
Glaciers_____
MAIN GREENHOUSE GASES
Gas
Major
Sources
Amount
Released
per Year
(millions of
tons)
5,500
Average Time
in the
Atmosphere
Carbon
Dioxide
CO2
Burning of Fossil Fuels
Methane
CH4
Fossil Fuel Production
Livestock
Rice Paddies
Decay of Organic
Waste
Fertilizers
Industrial Processes
Combustion
Chlorofluorocarbons
CFCs
Water Vapor
H2O
Nitrous Oxide
N 2O
Pre-industrial
Concentration
(around 1860)
(ppb)
Average
Concentration
now
(ppb)
Expected
Concentration
in 2030
(ppb)
100 years
Global
Warming
Potential*
(over 100
years)
1
290,000
350,000
500,000
500
10 years
21
850
1,700
2,300
30
days
310
.001 to 7
.001 to 50
.001 to 50
Aerosol Sprays
Refrigerants
1
60 to 100 years
1500-8100
0
about 3
2.4 to 6
Naturally Occurring as
a Result of the Water
Cycle
Most Abundant GHG
N/A
9-10 days
about 45
N/A
N/A
N/A
*Global Warming Potential is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere. It compares the amount of heat
trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide.