CCP Science 19-2 quiz

electromagnetic spectrum

All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation

Global Climate Change

Climate change" encompasses global warming, but refers to the broader range of changes that are happening to our planet. These include rising sea levels, shrinking mountain glaciers, accelerating ice melt in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic, and shifts in flower/plant blooming times Melting ice in polar regions→ raise sea levels → stronger hurricanes and other storms because there is more atmosphere energy→ Permafrost melting, releasing CH4 → More heat waves

Be able to explain what a greenhouse gas does.

During the day, the Sun shines through the atmosphere. Earth's surface warms up in the sunlight. At night, Earth's surface cools, releasing the heat back into the air

Be able to describe how visible light and infrared light warm Earth (the greenhouse effect)

Infrared and visible light that reach Earth's surface are absorbed. Heated surfaces radiate at back into the air where greenhouse gases absorb some of that heat

Carbon Sink

Natural sinks for carbon include photosynthesis, forests, oceans and freshwater bodies, fossil fuels and carbonate rocks

Be able to explain why the sky is blue and sunsets are red

Scattering occurs when particles and gas molecules in the atmosphere reflect and bend the solar rays. The remaining radiation continues towards Earth's surface. As a result of scattering, sunlight that reaches Earth's surface comes from all directions. Scattering makes the sky blue and sunsets appear red.

Carbon Cycle

The movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back

Be able to explain why Earth has different temperatures from polar regions to the tropics.

The sunlight is spread out so less energy per square inch means less heat is generated. The tropics are warmer than temperate regions because the sun's rays arrive almost perpendicular to regions near the equator. Near the poles, the angle of incidence of the sun's rays spreads them out over a much greater area, providing less energy per unit of area.

Be able to explain what happens to incoming solar radiation when it reaches Earth.

The upper atmosphere absorbs almost all radiation that has a wavelength shorter than the wavelength of visible light. Molecules of Nitrogen and Oxygen in the atmosphere and mesosphere absorb the x-rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet rays. In the atmosphere, ultraviolet rays are absorbed and act upon oxygen molecules to form ozone.

Greenhouse Effect

The warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases in the air absorb and reradiate infrared radiation

Carbon Source

There are natural and human sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Natural sources include decomposition, ocean release and respiration. Human sources come from activities like cement production, deforestation as well as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas.

Albedo

the fraction of solar radiation that is reflected off the surface of an object

Convection

the movement of matter due to differences in density that are caused by temperature variations; can result in the transfer of energy as heat

Conduction

the transfer of energy as heat through a material

What would happen if there were more sinks than sources

there would be a reversed effect and the temperature would get colder

Be able to explain carbon sinks and sources and give examples

A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period A carbon source is a place, person, or thing from which something comes or can be obtained

Greenhouse Gases

A gas composed of molecules that absorb and radiate infrared radiation from the sun