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9 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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natural greenhouse effect (definition) |
process that - Keeps Earth’s average global temperatures 35 °C warmer than it would otherwise be - maintains conducive habitat for life (while preventing extreme temperatures) |
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process - sun emits SW radiation, what happens? |
Shortwave radiation from the Sun passes through the atmosphere, and is partly absorbed, reflected or scattered. The rest reaches the surface and warms the Earth’s surface |
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process - earth re-emits LW terrestrial radiation WHY? WHAT HAPPENS to outgoing radiation? |
The Earth’s surface re-emits insolation as longwave radiation back to the atmosphere, as it is cooler than the sun. Some outgoing radiation escapes directly to space, or is reabsorbed by other gas molecules after being radiated away by greenhouse gases, but most will be absorbed by the atmosphere’s greenhouse gases, warming them up. The remaining radiation is radiated back to and then reabsorbed by the Earth’s surface. |
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process - effect of continual re-radiation of outgoing terrestrial radiation back to earth |
The Earth’s surface is thus continually supplied with heat from the atmosphere (as reradiated longwave radiation) and the Sun (as insolation), maintaining warmth. |
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process - repetition of cycle |
This heat energy will continue in a cycle of being remitted by Earth’s surface, then partially returned to the atmosphere, then reradiated Earthward, and so on. |
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human enhanced greenhouse effect |
Human activities enhance the GE by emitting a higher proportion of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. |
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role of greenhouse gases in the cycle |
Some outgoing radiation escapes directly to space, or is reabsorbed by other gas molecules after being radiated away by greenhouse gases, but most will be absorbed by the atmosphere’s greenhouse gases, warming them up. |
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how do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming |
Greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere for decades, up to centuries. Greenhouse gases emitted today will drive climate change well into the future. |
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diagram (must draw) |
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