8.2.c greenhouse effect - global warming

There are two black body radiation curves. The curve on the left (in red) comes from ...

There are two black body radiation curves. The curve on the right (in blue) comes from ...

Tick the statements that are correct according to this graph.

• the biggest greenhouse gas is water vapour

• oxygen and ozone absorb some infra red radiation

• carbon dioxide absorbs ultra-violet light from the sun

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the mechanism that describes the greenhouse effect.

• Earth absorbs some radiation from the sun in infra red, visable and ultra violet parts of the spectrum.

• The earth heats up and reflects intra red radiation

• Greenhouse gasses absorb infra red radiation

• infra red radiation from the earth is reflected back by the greenhouse gases

• infra red radiation from the greenhouse gasses is radiated back to earth AND up into space

Methane and carbon dioxide are both greenhouse gases that are believed to cause global warming. The reason for this is that these gases...

• absorb incoming radiation from the sun

• transmit the incoming radiation from the Sun and radiation from the Earth

• reflect incoming radiation from the Sun

• transmit incoming radiation from the Sun and absorb outgoing radiation from the Earth.

Which of the following lists snow, desert and ocean in increasing order of magnitude of albedo?

• snow , desert, ocean

• snow, ocean, desert

• ocean, desert, snow

• desert, ocean, snow

• ocean, snow, desert

Which could increase the rate of global warming?

• replacing fossil fuel power stations with nuclear reactors

• replacing gas-fired power stations with coal-fired power stations

• using carbon dioxide capture and storage at power stations

• replacing conventional fossil fuel power stations with combined heating and power CPH systems

• using biomass instead of coal in power stations

Answer explanation

coal is not as efficient as gas - and so produces more greenhouse gas to get the same energy.

The average intensity of the solar radiation incident on a planet is 500 Wm^-2. The albedo of the planet is 0.6. The average temperature of the planet is constant. Which of the following is correct statement about the intensity of radiation REFLECTED and RADIATED by the planet?

• REFLECTED: 300Wm^-2, RADIATED:200 Wm^-2

• REFLECTED: 300Wm^-2, RADIATED: less than 200Wm^-2

• REFLECTED: 200Wm^-2, RADIATED:300Wm^-2

• REFLECTED: 200 Wm^-2, RADIATED:less than 300 Wm^-2

Answer explanation

0.6 of 500 is 300, and the power in must equal the power out for thermal equ'um.

Which of the following are greenhouse gases?

• Carbon dioxide

• Methane

• Nitrogen Oxide

• water vapour

• allotropes of oxygen (oxygen/ozone)

Without the Greenhouse Effect the Earth would be

• warm 
• cold
• dead