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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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What are the principal greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Why is water vapor not a significant contributor to climate change?
It has a short residence time in the atmosphere.
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.
What percentage of incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space?
Approximately 30%.
What is the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide?
1, serving as the reference point for comparing other greenhouse gases.
What major human activity significantly contributes to carbon dioxide increases?
The combustion of fossil fuels.
What is the current atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide compared to preindustrial levels?
Currently at 417 ppm, up from 278 ppm in 1750.
How much of man-made global warming is attributed to carbon dioxide?
64%.
What anthropogenic activities are leading to increases in methane concentrations?
Feedlot agriculture, rice agriculture, landfills, and oil and natural gas operations.
What is the major anthropogenic source of nitrous oxide?
Agriculture, particularly from nitrogen fertilizers.
What are halocarbons, and what percentage do they contribute to man-made global warming?
Industrial chemicals like CFCs with about 4% contribution.
What international agreement helped reduce CFC emissions?
The Montreal Protocol.
What phenomenon results in additional warming due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations?
The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect.