In this IBDP Biology blog post, we will be going through the process of the greenhouse effect, and ways in which it influences our environment.
The Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse effect: Greenhouse gases absorb long-wave solar radiation in the atmosphere, increasing the overall temperature of the planet
Greenhouse gases: Gases in the atmosphere that retain heat
Greenhouse gases with the largest warming effect on Earth
Carbon Dioxide
- Water Vapour
- Greenhouse gases that have a lesser impact are
Methane
- Nitrogen oxides [released naturally by bacteria in agriculture and vehicle exhausts]
- All the Greenhouse gases make up less than 1% of the atmosphere
Greenhouse gases absorb longer wave radiation in the atmosphere
more heat is retained in the atmosphere
This impacts the global temperature and climate
Greenhouse Gas Impact and how it works
The impact of a Greenhouse gas depends on
- its ability to absorb longer wave radiation
- the concentration of that gas in the atmosphere
Ability to absorb long wave radiation such as heat
Abundance [rate of release and persistance] in the atmosphere
Carbon Dioxide is very abundant within the atmosphere and persists for years
Water Vapour is released very quickly into the atmosphere but only persists for days
- Approximately 25% of solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere
- Approximately 75% of solar radiation penetrates the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface
- Earth's surface absorbs short wave energy and re-emits at longer wave lengths (as heat)
- Up to 85% of re-emmited heat is captured by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
- Heat passes back to the surface of the Earth causing warming
If Earth had no atmosphere and therefore no greenhouse gas effect the average surface temperature would be -18 degrees celsius
That's all for how the greenhouse effect works!
References:
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.ipcc.ch%2Fpublications_and_data%2Far4%2Fwg1%2Fen%2Ffaq-1-3.html&psig=AOvVaw130iOf-cCIKqsF38nhBOMh&ust=1626283602675000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAoQjRxqFwoTCKiL29bI4PECFQAAAAAdAAAAABAu
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwhatsyourimpact.org%2Fgreenhouse-effect&psig=AOvVaw0qjPp2ffJtAvP5wf0UDpb1&ust=1626284416817000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAoQjRxqFwoTCKjg5dzL4PECFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
Drafted by Venetia (Biology)