name three greenhouse gases | water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane |
give the steps of the greenhouse gas effect | - energy from the sun travels to earth as short wavelength
-some is reflected back into space but most passes through the atmosphere as short wavelength radiation doesn't react strongly with the gas molecules in the atm
-energy from radiation is absorbed but the earths surface
-the surface radiates the energy as long wavelength
- some long wavelength radiation reacts with the greenhouse gas molecules in the atm
-bc energy is trapped in the atm, it causes temp of atm to increase |
why is the greenhouse gas effect important | it keeps the earth warm enough for living organisms to survive, without it, the earth would be too cold and most living organisms wouldn't be able to survive |
give ways CO2 increases everyday | fossil fuels are burnt for electricity, petrol and diesel for cars and gas for homes |
why does deforestation mean an increase of CO2 levels | -carbon dioxide is absorbed by growing trees e.g. in rainforests
-rainforests are being destroyed by deforestation
-trees are often burnt which releases large amounts of CO2 and prevents the CO2 from being absorbed |
how is methane released into the atmosphere | agriculture e.g. growing rice in flooded paddy fields, when cattle fart |
why does temp increase as these greenhouse gases increase | as more gets released, more energy from the sun is getting trapped,increasing temp |
state some effects climate change has | -increase temp melts polar ice sheets and glaciers which could lead to rising sea levels that flood low-lying areas
-more severe weather
- changes the distribution of animals and insects, as well as insect-borne diseases |
why is peer review important | allows scientists to detect false claims based on poor evidence or bias |