The Greenhouse Effect

Section 3.3 (continued)

 Greenhouse Effect
A process in which certain gases in Earth’s
atmosphere absorb heat from the Sun &
heat radiated from Earth’s surface.
This warms the earth’s surface.
Keeps Earth’s temperature within a certain
range.
Plants can grow year round in a
greenhouse.
Greenhouse Effect
 Greenhouse Effect
1) Solar energy enters Earth’s atmosphere
2) Surface absorbs solar energy &
radiates some energy as heat
3) Certain gases in atmosphere absorb
heat radiated from surface
4) Gases radiate heat they absorb,
heating the atmosphere & warming Earth
 Greenhouse Effect
A) Keeps air inside the greenhouse warm
B) Keeps air surrounding the Earth warm
Natural Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
Type Common Sources Other Details
Water ●Evaporation from water ●Most abundant GHG 70%
vapour ●By plants, animals, & ●Varies with temperature
other organisms ●Produced during cellular
respiration & plant
processes

Carbon ●Living organism ●2nd most abundant GHG

Dioxide ●Volcanoes, forest fires, ●Produced by cellular
decaying organisms, respiration in most
release from ocean organisms

Methane ●Certain bacteria’s & ●By-product of some

microorganisms found in cellular processes
bogs, wetlands, melting ●Some species extract
permafrost energy from food in
absence of O2

Nitrous ●Bacteria live in oceans & ●Produced when species of

Oxide wet, warm soils ex. bacteria break down
Tropics nitrogen rich compounds
from food
 Hydrosphere
Water in all its different forms on Earth.
Includes oceans, lakes, rivers, ice,
snow, and water vapour.
66% of planet in
oceans.
Moderates
temperature &
transfers heat.
Carbon Sink: activity or mechanism that
absorbs & stores carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere.
Moderates temperature by oceans removing
CO2 from the atmosphere.
 Hydrosphere Transfers Heat
Cold water (dense) sinks in oceans and
displaces warm water around it.
Salt water is more dense, and sinks &
displaces less salty water.
Creates deep water currents called “GREAT
OCEAN CONVEYOR BELT”.
Belts carry water around the world.
Great Ocean Conveyor Belt
 Seatwork / Homework
Read Section 3.3 (p. 218-224)
List the 4 main gases in the greenhouse
effect, and where they come from.
Answer Questions:
p. 219 #2, 3
p. 221 #1, 2
p. 225 #1-3
p. 229 #4-8