Understanding Earth's Atmosphere and Climate

Earth's temperatures are stable because we are surrounded by ______ which allows the right amount of sunlight in to warm the Earth.

This layer keeps us "not too hot in the summer" and "not too cold in the winter." Scientists call this the ______ effect.

Certain gases in the atmosphere – water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – help maintain the Earth's temperatures and climate. These are called: ______.

The solar energy that warms the Earth includes visible light, infrared and _____ coming from the sun.

The solar radiation that bounces off the Earth back toward the atmosphere is mostly _____ (with a longer wavelength).

The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth is called the: __________.

How are humans making greenhouse gases of our own?

Too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may block heat from escaping into space and trap too much heat next to the Earth's surface causing: __________.

Something that might happen because of global warming is: ______.

Things you can do to help decrease global warming include: