The Greenhouse effect

What is the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere

Variable and changes depending on the temperature

Name 3 greenhouse gases

Water vapour

Carbon dioxide

Methane

What does the greenhouse effect do for earth

Keeps the temperature on earth warm enough to support life. Without it, the earth would be too cold for most living organisms to survive

The greenhouse gas effect:

Energy from the sun travels to Earth as short wavelength radiation (ultra violet and visible light)

Some of this radiation simply reflects back into space but most passes easily through the atmosphere as short wavelength radiation does not interact strongly with the gas molecules in the atmosphere

The energy of the radiation is absorbed when it reaches the earths surface

The earth surface now radiates the energy as long wavelength radiation (infrared) and some of this radiation interacts with the greenhouse gas molecules in the atmosphere (energy of the long wavelength radiation is absorbed)

Because the energy is trapped in the atmosphere it causes the temperature of atmosphere to increase