Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change

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These flashcards cover key concepts related to greenhouse gases, their sources, impacts on climate change, and related statistics.

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13 Terms

1
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What are the principal greenhouse gases?

Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

2
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Why is water vapor not a significant contributor to climate change?

It has a short residence time in the atmosphere.

3
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What is the greenhouse effect?

The natural process where gases in the atmosphere absorb outgoing heat and reradiate it back towards Earth, necessary for sustaining life.

4
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What percentage of incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space?

Approximately 30%.

5
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What is the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide?

1, serving as the reference point for comparing other greenhouse gases.

6
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What major human activity significantly contributes to carbon dioxide increases?

The combustion of fossil fuels.

7
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What is the current atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide compared to preindustrial levels?

Currently at 417 ppm, up from 278 ppm in 1750.

8
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How much of man-made global warming is attributed to carbon dioxide?

64%.

9
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What anthropogenic activities are leading to increases in methane concentrations?

Feedlot agriculture, rice agriculture, landfills, and oil and natural gas operations.

10
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What is the major anthropogenic source of nitrous oxide?

Agriculture, particularly from nitrogen fertilizers.

11
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What are halocarbons, and what percentage do they contribute to man-made global warming?

Industrial chemicals like CFCs with about 4% contribution.

12
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What international agreement helped reduce CFC emissions?

The Montreal Protocol.

13
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What phenomenon results in additional warming due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations?

The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect.