Scotland - Learning for Sustainability - Greenhouse effect - 3rd and 4th Level CfE - BBC Bitesize (2024)

What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is the name given to the natural process that causes the Earth to be warmer than it would be in the absence of an atmosphere.

The surface of the Earth is heated by the Sun. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap this heat, keeping the planet warm.

  1. Solar radiation at most wavelengths passes through the Earth's atmosphere.
  2. The Earth absorbs most of the radiation and warms up.
  3. The Earth radiates heat energy.
  4. Some of the heat escapes into space.
  5. Some of the heat is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
  6. Greenhouse gases radiate heat in all directions
  7. The lower atmosphere warms up.

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What are greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases can occur naturally. They trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere include:

  • water vapour
  • carbon dioxide
  • methane
  • nitrous oxide

Water vapour is the largest contributor, responsible for 98 per cent of the natural greenhouse effect.

Without the greenhouse effect, the surface of the Earth would have an average temperature of -18 °C (Source: World Meteorological Organization) and be covered in ice. Life as we know it would not be able to survive.

Although these gases have always been present in the world's atmosphere, their concentration is increasing because of human activity.

Name three greenhouse gases.

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What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Global warming (or global heating) is attributed to the enhanced greenhouse effect. This is caused by the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases e.g. carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxides, act like a blanket and trap heat inside the Earth's atmosphere.

As concentrations of these gases build up, they are more effective at preventing heat being lost into space. The amount of heat being lost from the atmosphere is less than the energy entering the atmosphere. As a result the temperature of the atmosphere increases.

Scotland - Learning for Sustainability - Greenhouse effect - 3rd and 4th Level CfE - BBC Bitesize (2)
  1. Greenhouse gases allow more solar radiation to pass through Earth's atmosphere
  2. The Earth absorbs most of the radiation and warms up.
  3. The Earth radiates heat energy.
  4. More heat is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
  5. Less heat escapes into space.
  6. Greenhouse gases radiate heat in all directions
  7. The lower atmosphere heats up.

Human activity is responsible for increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The main causes of this are:

  • burning fossil fuels for heat and electricity
  • fossil fuel use in transport
  • agriculture
  • deforestation
  • cement manufacture

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Scotland - Learning for Sustainability - Greenhouse effect - 3rd and 4th Level CfE - BBC Bitesize (2024)

FAQs

What is the greenhouse effect BBC bitesize GCSE? ›

The greenhouse effect is the name given to the natural process that causes the Earth to be warmer than it would be in the absence of an atmosphere. The surface of the Earth is heated by the Sun. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap this heat, keeping the planet warm.

What are the 3 major effects of enhanced greenhouse effect? ›

The flooding of coastal cities, the desertification of fertile areas, the melting of glacial masses and the proliferation of devastating hurricanes are just some of the main consequences.

What are the four stages of the greenhouse effect? ›

Greenhouse effect

Step 2: The rest of the sun's energy is absorbed by the land and the oceans, heating the Earth. Step 3: Heat radiates from Earth towards space. Step 4: Some of this radiative heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth warm enough to sustain life.

What is 3 greenhouse effect? ›

The greenhouse effect: some of the infrared radiation from the Sun passes through the atmosphere, but most is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions by greenhouse gas molecules and clouds. The effect of this is to warm the Earth's surface and the lower atmosphere.

How cold would Earth be without any greenhouse effect? ›

The warming influence on the Earth is crucial to the existence of life on Earth. Without the influence of the greenhouse effect on our planet, the average surface temperature would be 255 Kelvin - which can also be expressed as -18°C or 0°F.

What is the greenhouse effect for dummies? ›

The Short Answer: The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in Earth's atmosphere trap the Sun's heat. This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is one of the things that makes Earth a comfortable place to live.

What are 10 things we can change to reduce the greenhouse effect? ›

10 Ways to Stop Global Warming
  • Change a light. Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
  • Drive less. ...
  • Recycle more. ...
  • Check your tires. ...
  • Use less hot water. ...
  • Avoid products with a lot of packaging. ...
  • Adjust your thermostat. ...
  • Plant a tree.

What is the difference between greenhouse effect and global warming? ›

Global warming is the consequence of an unbalanced greenhouse effect. That is, global warming is the result of the imbalance in this heat transition produced in the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that takes care of the transition of heat in the atmosphere.

Where on Earth is most carbon stored? ›

Most of Earth's carbon is stored in rocks and sediments. The rest is located in the ocean, atmosphere, and in living organisms. These are the reservoirs through which carbon cycles. Carbon dioxide concentrations are rising mostly because of the fossil fuels that people are burning for energy.

Who is to blame for the enhanced greenhouse effect? ›

Human Activity Is the Cause of Increased Greenhouse Gas Concentrations. Over the last century, burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).

How long do greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere? ›

Major Greenhouse Gases Associated with Human Activities
Greenhouse gasAverage lifetime in the atmosphere100-year global warming potential
Carbon dioxidesee below*1
Methane11.8 years27.0–29.8**
Nitrous oxide109 years273
Fluorinated gasesA few weeks to thousands of yearsVaries (the highest is sulfur hexafluoride at 25,200)

What is the biggest cause of the greenhouse effect? ›

Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years. The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.

What is the greenhouse effect in layman's terms? ›

The greenhouse effect is the process through which heat is trapped near Earth's surface by substances known as 'greenhouse gases.' Imagine these gases as a cozy blanket enveloping our planet, helping to maintain a warmer temperature than it would have otherwise.

Could we survive on Earth without the greenhouse effect? ›

Without any greenhouse gases, Earth would be an icy wasteland. Greenhouse gases keep our planet livable by holding onto some of Earth's heat energy so that it doesn't all escape into space.

What is the greenhouse effect in GCSE science? ›

→What is the greenhouse effect? The greenhouse effect is a natural process that occurs when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the Sun, warming the Earth's surface. This process is necessary for life on Earth, but an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations can lead to global warming and climate change.

What is the greenhouse effect short answer? ›

The greenhouse effect is the process through which heat is trapped near Earth's surface by substances known as 'greenhouse gases.' Imagine these gases as a cozy blanket enveloping our planet, helping to maintain a warmer temperature than it would have otherwise.

What are three causes of the greenhouse effect? ›

Burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests and farming livestock are increasingly influencing the climate and the earth's temperature. This adds enormous amounts of greenhouse gases to those naturally occurring in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Which answer best describes the greenhouse effect? ›

The greenhouse effect happens when heat trapped by gases in the atmosphere warms the Earth. The best description of this process is found in answer choice (E). Atmospheric gases trapping heat and warming the planet's surface is the correct answer.

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