Explain the greenhouse effect. List 3 important (\"strong\" and/or abundant) gre

Question

Explain the greenhouse effect. List 3 important ("strong" and/or abundant) greenhouse gases. In which level of the atmosphere does the greenhouse effect take place stratosphere or troposphere? State whether the greenhouse effect is a positive or negative radiative force. An increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causes which of the below? a change in the amount of sunlight reaching the earth's surface a change in the amount of heat reradiated back to earth instead of being lost to space a change in the amount of heat originally radiated off the surface of the earth.

Explanation / Answer

8. Everyday across the earth there is a delicate co-ordination between the radiation received by the planet from space and the radiation that is reflected back out of the space from the earth. Primarily from the sun, earth is constantly bombrded with enormous amount of energy called solar radiation. It strikes the Earth's atmosphere in the form of visible, ultraviolet, infrared radiation alongwith various radiations invisible to human eye. The amount of radiation striking Earth's atmosphere which is immediately reflected back out to space is about 30%.

The rest of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the oceans, the land and the atmosphere. The water bodies, land and atmosphere release heat in the form of IR thermal radiation, which passes out of the atmosphere and into space subsequently as the Earth is heated.

This process of balancing the incoming and outgoing radiation that makes the Earth habitable, with an average temperature is referred as the Green house effect.

The glass walls of a greenhouse are permeable to the incoming UV radiation which is absorbed by the plants and hard surfaces inside. But, the weak IR radiation has difficulty passing through the glass walls and is trapped inside which results in warming the greenhouse. Thus, during a cold winter it helps the tropical plants to thrive inside a greenhouse.

The three important strong green house gases are:

Green house effect is a positive force as it acts like a blanket absorbing IR radiation and preventing it to escape into outer space. It is essential for humanity to survive, without it the earth would be far colder.

An increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causes: C. a change in the amount of heat originally radiated off the surface of the earth.

Explanation- The effect is summed up as global warming since the trapped heat inside the Earth rises, decreasing amount of heat to be passed or radiated off back into space.

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