4.12 Greenhouse Effect

Recall that water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane & CFCs are greenhouse gases.

 Green House Effect: is a naturally occurring process that aids in heating the Earth's surface and atmosphere.

(a) UV light (from the sun) - has short/high energy
(b) UV light is reflected to space (50%)
(c) Represents absorption. UV light --> Infrared red
(d) Infrared red long wave.
(e) ^^ Some is lost to space, as heat.
(f) Green house gases (water vapor, CO2, CH4)
(g) Green house gases join, and re-radiate thermal   radiation (form of wave energy) in all directions. (temp here is higher)
(h) Enhanced Green house effect = is having more CO2+CH4, then they will absorb more of the escaping infrared radiation & release this backwards towards the earth - resulting in higher  temps. - leads to CLIMATE CHANGE.

CFC'S

Are: chlorofluorocarbons. (strongest greenhouse gas) contains carbon, chlorine, and fluorine.

Effect:  when released from the surface of the Earth, they rise slowly into the stratosphere. Once there, they  are attacked by the incoming UV light, releasing the chlorine atoms from the parent compound, which can then react with the ozone molecules. Eventually the chlorine atom is removed from the atmosphere by other reactions. They are active ozone reducers.