Greenhouse Effect

Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Methane

• Hydrogen

What is one major difference between the earth's greenhouse effect and an actual greenhouse?

• Heat escapes form a greenhouse more easily than it does from Earth's atmosphere

• The glass in a greenhouse traps heat, while greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and recycle heat

• Actual greenhouses are cold in winter, while the greenhouse effect has led to warm winters across the earth

• There is no significant difference; both work pretty much the same way

What happens to most solar radiation when it reaches the surfaces of the earth?

• It reflects right back into space

• It's collected in solar panels

• It's soaked up by land, water, and plants

• It disperses throughout the earth's atmosphere

In what form is radiation emitted from the earth's surface back into the atmosphere?

• As light

• As greenhouse gases

• As gamma rays

• As heat

What might happen if the greenhouse effect didn't exist?

• It would be too cold for humans to survive on the earth

• The earth's temperature would be much more comfortable

• The sun's rays would never reach the surface of the earth

• The earth wouldn't have an atmosphere

What can you infer from the fact that global warming has only been a problem for the last 100 years or so?

• Prior to 100 years ago, the greenhouse effects on the earth was too minor to be detected

• The earth moved significantly closer to the sun about 100 years ago

• People have only been pumping large quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere for 100 years or so

• The movement of glaciers was a major problem for people 100 years ago

How can global warming cause sea levels to rise?

• By causing it to rain more often

• By melting glaciers and polar ice caps

• By increasing the number of undersea volcanic eruptions

• By creating bigger and more powerful hurricanes

Why does cutting down trees increase global warming?

• Trees soak up carbon dioxide from the air

• Trees provide shade, which counteracts global warming

• Trees absorb the sun's energy without radiating it back into the atmosphere

• Trees drain greenhouse gases like methane from the soil

Which of the following is an example of a fossil fuel?

• Firewood

• Dead leaves

• Seashells

• Gasoline

What effect do cows and livestock have on global warming?

• They eat trees and grass, which adds to global warming

• Their digestive systems produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas

• Humans use lots of fossil fuels to cook the meat they produce, adding to global warming

• Livestock have high body temperatures and emit infrared radiation, adding to global warming