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Chapter 9: Problem 8

How does the greenhouse effect influence the temperature of the atmosphere? Which properties of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere cause this effect?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The greenhouse effect influences the temperature of the atmosphere by trapping solar energy radiated back to space from the Earth's surface, thus creating a 'greenhouse' of warmth around the planet. This is caused by greenhouse gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. The specific properties of these gases that cause this effect are their ability to absorb long-wave radiation and their complex molecular structures, which make them good absorbers and re-emitters of radiation.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface. Solar energy radiating back to space from the earth's surface is absorbed by greenhouse gases and then re-emitted in all directions. This re-emission of energy to the Earth maintains the planet's temperature at a level higher than it would be without these gases.
02

Role of Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ozone (O3). These gases are capable of trapping heat from the sun's light within the Earth's atmosphere, thus preventing it from being released back into space. Their presence is vital for life on Earth as they help maintain the planet's temperature.
03

Properties of Greenhouse Gases Causing the Effect

The key property of greenhouse gases that facilitate the greenhouse effect is their ability to absorb long-wave radiation (i.e. heat). After these gases absorb the heat radiated from Earth, they re-emit it back towards the planet, which ultimately increases its temperature. The effectiveness of these gases in trapping heat can be related to their molecular structure. For instance, gases with three or more atoms, such as water vapor (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), are good absorbers of radiation, while diatomic molecules like oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) are less effective.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement made by a number of nations around the world to reduce their production of greenhouse gases. Use the World Wide Web to investigate the status of the Kyoto Protocol. How many nations have signed the protocol? What fraction of the world's greenhouse gas production comes from these nations? Have any developed nations failed to sign? How effective has the protocol been?

The Earth is at perihelion on January 3 and at aphelion on July 4. Because of precession, in 15,000 A.D. the amount of sunlight in summer will be more than at present in the northern hemisphere but less than at present in the southern hemisphere. Explain why.

Earth's atmospheric pressure decreases by a factor of onehalf for every \(5.5-\mathrm{km}\) increase in altitude above sea level. Construct a plot of pressure versus altitude, assuming the pressure at sea level is one atmosphere (1 atm). Discuss the characteristics of your graph. At what altitude is the atmospheric pressure equal to \(0.001\) atm?

The inner core of the Earth is at a higher temperature than the outer core. Why, then, is the inner core solid and the outer core molten instead of the other way around?

The human population on Earth is currently doubling about every 30 years. Describe the various pressures placed on the Earth by uncontrolled human population growth. Can such growth continue indefinitely? If not, what natural and human controls might arise to curb this growth? It has been suggested that overpopulation problems could be solved by colonizing the Moon or Mars. Do you think this is a reasonable solution? Explain your answer.
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