Gases in the Atmosphere absorb Radiation Unit A Chapter 1 Section 3

What happens to most of the sunlight that travels through the earth’s atmosphere? Reaches Earth’s surface

List four ways the atmosphere affects light? absorb it reflect it let it pass through emit or give off light (not visible light though)

How is ultraviolet radiation different than visible light? It has more energy

What can ultraviolet radiation do? Cause sunburn and other types of damage

How is infrared radiation different than visible light? It has less energy

What can infrared radiation do to objects that absorb it? Usually warms them

What is an ozone molecule made of? Three atoms of oxygen (O3)

Where is the ozone layer found? Stratosphere

What form of radiation does the ozone layer absorb? Ultraviolet (UV) radiation

List three things that too much ultraviolet radiation can cause. Increased sun burn Skin cancer Eye damage

How do greenhouse gases help keep Earth warm? Absorb and emit infrared radiation, which keeps energy in Earth’s system for awhile

Name four greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide Methane Nitrous oxide Water vapor

In what layer are most greenhouse gases found? Troposphere

*Greenhouse Effect

In time, what happens to all of the energy that enters Earth’s atmosphere? It returns to outer space

*Greenhouse Gases help keep Earth Warm, but too much of a good thing can be bad. Carbon dioxide Water vapor Methane Nitrous oxide The burning fossil fuels is producing greenhouse gases faster than they can be removed by natural processes. This may be responsible for an increase in the average temperature over the past century – Global Warming

What would happen if the energy did not return to outer space? The Earth would grow warmer and warmer