Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
9
Chapters
219
Notes
Unit 1 - Foundations Of Environmental Systems & Societies
Unit 1 - Foundations Of Environmental Systems & Societies
Unit 2 - Ecosystems & Ecology
Unit 2 - Ecosystems & Ecology
Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation
Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation
Unit 4 -Water & Aquatic Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 4 -Water & Aquatic Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Unit 7 - Climate Change & Energy Production
Unit 7 - Climate Change & Energy Production
Unit 8 - Human Systems & Resource Use
Unit 8 - Human Systems & Resource Use
Internal Assessment
Internal Assessment
IB Resources
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies

Greenhouse Effect Explained!

Word Count Emoji
549 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Overview🔍

The greenhouse effect keeps our planet warm enough to support life. But too much of a good thing? Let's find out!

The greenhouse effect 101🔥

  • Definition: The greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere let in short-wave sunlight but trap the outgoing long-wave radiation from Earth.

  • Result: This trapped radiation warms our atmosphere.

  • Life-Saver: Thanks to the greenhouse effect, Earth isn’t a frozen popsicle (or a superhot oven) like the Moon.

    • 🌙 Moon vs. Earth Fun Fact: While the Moon and Earth are almost equidistant from the Sun, the Moon has wild temperature swings! Its daytime temps can reach a toasty 100°C, and nighttime can dip to a chilling -150°C. The average temp? A frosty -18°C. On Earth, it's a comfortable 15°C. That’s a 33°C difference, all thanks to our lovely atmosphere!

Greenhouse sases - who's who?🌬

  • Water Vapour: The heavyweight champ! It makes up:

    • 95% of greenhouse gases by volume
    • 50% of the greenhouse effect's impact
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO₂):

    • 1950: 315 ppm
    • 2015: Over 400 ppm (That's a big jump!)
    • 2050 prediction: 600 ppm 😲
    • Main Culprit: Humans! Fossil fuel burning (like coal, oil, and natural gas) and deforestation.
    • Double Whammy with Deforestation: We lose the trees that absorb CO₂ and produce oxygen. It's like shooting yourself in both feet!
  • Methane (CH₄):

    • 2nd largest global warming contributor.
    • Growing at 1% per year.
    • Fun (or not-so-fun) Fact: Cows contribute by turning 10% of their food into methane! 🐄💨 = 100 million tonnes/year!
    • Other methane producers include paddy fields (150 million tonnes/year) and melting permafrost.
  • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) & Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs):

    • CFCs: Bad news! They destroy our protective ozone layer and trap heat. Some CFCs can trap up to 10,000 times more heat than CO₂. 😓
    • HCFCs: Their presence skyrocketed from the 1990s and they too contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect.

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IB Resources
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies

Greenhouse Effect Explained!

Word Count Emoji
549 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Overview🔍

The greenhouse effect keeps our planet warm enough to support life. But too much of a good thing? Let's find out!

The greenhouse effect 101🔥

  • Definition: The greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere let in short-wave sunlight but trap the outgoing long-wave radiation from Earth.

  • Result: This trapped radiation warms our atmosphere.

  • Life-Saver: Thanks to the greenhouse effect, Earth isn’t a frozen popsicle (or a superhot oven) like the Moon.

    • 🌙 Moon vs. Earth Fun Fact: While the Moon and Earth are almost equidistant from the Sun, the Moon has wild temperature swings! Its daytime temps can reach a toasty 100°C, and nighttime can dip to a chilling -150°C. The average temp? A frosty -18°C. On Earth, it's a comfortable 15°C. That’s a 33°C difference, all thanks to our lovely atmosphere!

Greenhouse sases - who's who?🌬

  • Water Vapour: The heavyweight champ! It makes up:

    • 95% of greenhouse gases by volume
    • 50% of the greenhouse effect's impact
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO₂):

    • 1950: 315 ppm
    • 2015: Over 400 ppm (That's a big jump!)
    • 2050 prediction: 600 ppm 😲
    • Main Culprit: Humans! Fossil fuel burning (like coal, oil, and natural gas) and deforestation.
    • Double Whammy with Deforestation: We lose the trees that absorb CO₂ and produce oxygen. It's like shooting yourself in both feet!
  • Methane (CH₄):

    • 2nd largest global warming contributor.
    • Growing at 1% per year.
    • Fun (or not-so-fun) Fact: Cows contribute by turning 10% of their food into methane! 🐄💨 = 100 million tonnes/year!
    • Other methane producers include paddy fields (150 million tonnes/year) and melting permafrost.
  • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) & Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs):

    • CFCs: Bad news! They destroy our protective ozone layer and trap heat. Some CFCs can trap up to 10,000 times more heat than CO₂. 😓
    • HCFCs: Their presence skyrocketed from the 1990s and they too contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Environmental Systems & Societies SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟

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