Greenhouse Gases and Introduction to the Carbon Cycle

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to greenhouse gases and the carbon cycle from the PHYC 2800 lecture notes.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that are fairly transparent to short wavelengths of solar radiation but efficiently absorb and emit longer wavelengths of infrared radiation.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

The end product of the combustion or oxidation of organic material and is soluble in water, involved in photosynthesis.

Methane (CH4)

A gas produced during the anaerobic decay of organic matter and by cattle and termites, also a major component of natural gas.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

A greenhouse gas released by bacterial activity, agricultural activities, combustion of fossil fuels, and industrial processes.

Ozone (O3)

A gas that forms a protective layer in the upper atmosphere but acts as a pollutant in the troposphere.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Anthropogenic compounds used in industrial applications that have long atmospheric lifetimes and contribute to ozone depletion.

Radiative Forcing

A change in the energy balance of the Earth's atmosphere caused by human or natural actions, leading to climate system responses.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

A metric that compares the emissions from various greenhouse gases based on their radiative effects relative to CO2.

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2-eq)

A measure used to compare emissions from different greenhouse gases based on their GWP, converting them to an equivalent amount of CO2.

Climate Sensitivity

The temperature increase expected from a doubling of CO2 concentration compared to pre-industrial levels.

Mass Balance

The principle that the mass inflow rate equals the mass outflow rate in a defined system, relevant for understanding carbon cycles.

Residence Time

The average time a molecule of a gas stays in the atmosphere, calculated as total mass in the reservoir divided by mass outflow rate.

Biosphere Processes

Natural processes within ecosystems that can enhance carbon retention and affect the global carbon cycle.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert CO2 and water into glucose and oxygen using sunlight.

Respiration

The metabolic process in which organisms convert glucose and oxygen into CO2, water, and energy.