Front

What is the greenhouse effect?

Back

The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space, thus warming the planet.

Front

What is albedo?

Back

Albedo is a measure of how much light that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed, expressed as a value between 0 (no reflection) and 1 (total reflection).

Front

What surface has an albedo value of 0?

Back

A pitch black road has an albedo value of 0, meaning it absorbs all incoming light.

Front

What surface has an albedo value close to 1?

Back

Fresh clean snow has an albedo value close to 1, reflecting most of the incoming light.

Front

What happens to solar energy when it hits light-colored surfaces?

Back

Solar energy can be reflected by light-colored surfaces like ice, reducing heat absorption.

Front

What happens to solar energy when it hits dark-colored surfaces?

Back

Solar energy is absorbed by dark-colored surfaces, increasing heat.

Front

What is infrared light?

Back

Infrared light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is not visible to the human eye but is felt as heat.

Front

How does the greenhouse effect contribute to global warming?

Back

The greenhouse effect contributes to global warming by increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases, which traps more heat in the atmosphere.

Front

What are some common greenhouse gases?

Back

Common greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

Front

What role do clouds play in the greenhouse effect?

Back

Clouds can both reflect sunlight back into space and trap heat, influencing the greenhouse effect.