physical earth final

reflected by clouds

25%

absorbed by the atmosphere

25%

reaches the surface of earth

50%

reflected by the surface of the earth

5%

absorbed by the surface of the earth

45%

greenhouse effect

greenhouse gases in the atmosphere allow visible light to reach Earth’s surface but trap some of the reradiated heat

What are the two most common greenhouse gasses?

carbon dioxide and water vapor

Which type of light passes through greenhouse gasses?

infrared light

Which type of light is trapped by greenhouse gasses?

infrared radiation

Is the greenhouse effect needed for life to exist on Earth? Why or why not?

Yes, the temperature would not be suitable for humans

Define albedo

The ability of a material to reflect sunlight

Does a material with an albedo close to 0 reflect lots of light or reflect very little light?

Very little light

What are three examples of common materials with a low albedo?

Plants, soil, and water

What are three examples of common materials with a high albedo?

Ice, snow, and clouds

Define positive feedback loop

A feedback loop that tends to accelerate or emphasize a particular effect or change

Give an example of a positive feedback loop

Heat retention causes melting of snow and ice, reducing albedo, and increasing the tempatures

Define negative feedback loop

A feedback loop that tends to stabilize a system over time

Give an example of a negative feedback loop

As Earth warms more evaporation occurs, that leads to more cloud formation, these clouds reflect more solar energy, cooling earths surface.

Define carbon reservoir

Parts of earth system that stores carbon

Define carbon flux

The amount of carbon transferred from one reservoir to another

Is the atmosphere one of the largest carbon reservoirs or one of the smallest carbon reservoirs?

Smallest

Give three examples of processes that move carbon into the atmosphere and put them in order of highest carbon flux to lowest carbon flux

Respiration and decomposition, combustion, and volcanism

Give three examples of processes that move carbon out of the atmosphere and put them in order of highest carbon flux to lowest carbon flux

Fossil fuel formation, chemical weathering, and photosynthesis