c9 - chemistry of the atmosphere

• name 3 examples of greenhouse gases

  • methane
  • water vapour
  • carbon dioxide
• what is global warming?

  the long term heating of the earth’s atmosphere
• what is climate change?

  the long term shifts in temperature and weather patterns due to global warming
• describe 4 human activities that have affected the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

  • deforestation have meant that there are fewer trees remaining to absorb carbon dioxide, and if trees were burned they would have released carbon dioxide
  • burning fossil fuels have released carbon dioxide
  • farming of animals such as cows have produce large amounts of methane via their digestive processes
  • as microorganisms break down our waste in landfill sites it releases carbon dioxide
• what is the atmosphere?

  the layer of gases surrounding the earth, that is held in place by gravity
• what are some consequences of climate change?


  • melting ice caps
  • rising sea levels
  • reduced biodiversity
  • changed migration patterns
  • increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and droughts
• What is the greenhouse effect?

  The process of trapping heat in the atmosphere
• How does the greenhouse effect work?

  Greenhouse gases trap heat energy in the atmosphere
• What type of radiation does solar energy become after being absorbed by the Earth?

  Longer wavelength radiation
• What happens to the longer wavelength radiation emitted by the Earth?

  Some escapes to space, some is absorbed by greenhouse gases
• What role do greenhouse gases play in the greenhouse effect?

  They absorb and reemit energy, trapping heat
• How does the repeated process of absorption and emission affect the atmosphere?

  It keeps the atmosphere warmer and more stable
• What are the main steps in the greenhouse effect process?

  1. Solar radiation passes through the atmosphere
  2. Earth absorbs energy and reemits it as longer wavelength radiation
  3. Some radiation escapes to space, but much is absorbed by greenhouse gases
  4. Greenhouse gases reemit energy, trapping heat
  5. This process repeats, stabilizing the atmosphere's temperature