Think of the earth as a gigantic calorimeter. Greenhouse gases such as methane a

Question

Think of the earth as a gigantic calorimeter. Greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide absorb heat (in the form of infrared radiation) and keep it from escaping into space, much like the insulation of a calorimeter keeps heat from escaping into the surroundings. One thousand years ago when there were fewer greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, a tree burned in a forest fire. Today, there are more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Suppose that another tree of exactly the same size burns in a fire and releases exactly the same amount of energy. Which tree caused a greater temperature rise in the "calorimeter", and why?

Explanation / Answer

Consider mixture of oxygen and tree burns in a calorimeter. As the tree burns it releases energy which is transferred to calorimeter. That is, heat released by reaction should be absorbed by calorimeter.

         qrxn = -(qcal) = (heat capacity of calorimeter*change in temperature)

That is temperature of calorimeter should increase.

Due to lack of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere thousand years ago, heat released by the tree is not completely utilized to raise the temperature of calorimeter. Thus, tree that burnt today will raise calorimeter temperature to much extent.

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