Climate Change-Final Exam

Many people do not believe in global warming, or if they do, they don’t believe that it is our fault or that it will effect us. “The Earth differs from other planets because our atmosphere acts as a solar blanket of sorts that traps sufficient solar energy. This solar energy is needed in order to keep the global average temperature in a fairly decent range.” (1) The “blanket” that surrounds the Earth is a collection of gases known as the greenhouse gases because they trap and store heat like a greenhouse does. These gases include water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and the ozone. “The greenhouse effect was at first used to describe naturally occurring functions of trace gases, but recently it has had a different meaning.” (1) It has been related to concerns over climate changes. Some scientists believe that the greenhouse effect could play a role in global warming. However, most do not, claiming that the greenhouse effect is responsible for maintaining Earth’s consistent temperature. The greenhouse gases themselves are very different from each other. “All of the gases are effective when absorbing heat and energy, but Methane is much more effective at absorbing infrared radiation (heat) and is thus a more powerful greenhouse gas.” (2) “Carbon dioxide molecules can absorb infrared radiation when its atoms are bonded tightly together. Eventually, the molecule will emit the radiation again and it will likely be absorbed by yet another greenhouse gas.” (1) There are a few natural mechanisms that could result in significant changes in climate, however. Everybody knows that CO2 is emitted from almost everything. We exhale it, our cars give it off, and even some of our more natural things give off CO2, such as the volcano. So what does that mean? Nobody really knows for sure, but some scientists believe that the increase in carbon dioxide emissions is the cause for the increase in temperature. “Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas that absorbs heat. Oxygen and nitrogen, though they too are major greenhouse gases, do not absorb heat. This could cause an increase in the Earth’s overall temperature in the future.” (1)

Bibliography
1.http://www.eoearth.org/article/greenhouse_gas , Greenhouse gas, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 1, 2008.
2.http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_3_1.htm, The Greenhouse Effect, Cycles of the Earth and Atmosphere, November 22, 2009.

picture urls
1.www.koshland-science-museum.org/exhibitgcc/ca...
2.www.odec.ca/projects/2005/stro5c0/public_html/
3.vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/.../OFR95-85/OFR95-85.html