co2 and methane as greenhouse gasses

• what is the role of greenhouse gasses

  maintain temperatures on earth high enough to support life
• name greenhouse gasses

  • co2
  • water vapour
  • methane
• What type of radiation does the Sun emit?

  Short-wavelength radiation
• How does short-wavelength radiation interact with the Earth's atmosphere?

  It passes through the atmosphere to the surface
• What happens to the energy absorbed by the Earth's surface?

  It gets warmer and releases long-wavelength radiation
• What type of radiation does the Earth release after absorbing energy?

  Long-wavelength radiation
• What role do greenhouse gases play in the greenhouse effect?

  They trap long-wavelength radiation in the atmosphere
• What happens to the heat absorbed by greenhouse gases?

  It is re-radiated in all directions
• How does the greenhouse effect contribute to the Earth's temperature?

  It increases the average temperature of the Earth
• What happens to some of the long-wavelength radiation in the atmosphere?

  Some leaves the atmosphere
• 2 green housegasses human activity increases

  • co2
  • methane
• 2 activities which increase co2

  • burning fossil fuels
  • creating waste-more landfill-co2 released in decomposition
• 2 activities which release methane

  • agriculture-farm animal (cows)- produce methane through digestive process
  • waste-landfill-methane released in decomposition
• why does evidence need to be peer-reviewed

  so we know its reliable
• 2 reasons people may not see the connection between climate change and co2

  • the temp of atmosphere has been proven to fluctuate
  • earth is complicated coz so many variables-hard to make a model which isnt simplified-leads to speculation and opinions presented in media which is only based on some evidence / may be biased
• dangers of climate change

  • more severe storms
  • changes in amount of water available- drought
  • floods-ice caps melting
  • change rainfall patterns
• what is a carbon footprint

  total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses emitted over the full life cycle of a product service or event
• how can you generally reduce carbon footprint

  reduce methane and co2 emmisions
• how can you reduce methane emissions

  • eating less beef
  • less waste to landfil- recycle more
• how can you reduce co2 emissions

  • less landfill - recycle more
  • carbon capture and storage -storing in the ground
  • charging tax on polluting vehicles
• why may emission reduction be limited

  • expensive
  • difficult to get all nations to agree