Question Video: Identifying the Best Description for the Greenhouse Effect | Nagwa Question Video: Identifying the Best Description for the Greenhouse Effect | Nagwa

Question Video: Identifying the Best Description for the Greenhouse Effect Science • Second Year of Preparatory School

Which of the following statements best describes the greenhouse effect? [A] Atmospheric gases trapping cosmic rays from space and warming the oceans [B] Atmospheric gases being destroyed by UV radiation from the Sun [C] Atmospheric gases reflecting the heat from the Sun back out into space [D] Atmospheric gases in the atmosphere trapping water vapor and lowering sea levels [E] Atmospheric gases trapping heat and warming the planet’s surface

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Video Transcript

Which of the following statements best describes the greenhouse effect? (A) Atmospheric gases trapping cosmic rays from space and warming the oceans. (B) Atmospheric gases being destroyed by UV radiation from the Sun. (C) Atmospheric gases reflecting the heat from the Sun back out into space. (D) Atmospheric gases in the atmosphere trapping water vapor and lowering sea levels. (E) Atmospheric gases trapping heat and warming the planet’s surface.

Now, let’s remove the answer choices from the screen to learn more about this topic.

The Sun is the most important source of energy for life on Earth. The surface of the Sun is very hot at about 5000 degrees Celsius. Because the Sun is so hot, it emits radiation that can travel through space. The main types of radiation emitted by the Sun are infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet. Infrared radiation has a long wavelength. Ultraviolet radiation, also known as UV, has a short wavelength.

When the radiation from the Sun reaches the Earth, it has to pass through the atmosphere before it reaches the surface of the Earth. The shorter-wavelength radiation, such as the visible light and ultraviolet, can pass through the atmosphere. Most of the longer-wavelength infrared radiation is absorbed by certain gases in our atmosphere. The surface of the Earth absorbs the shorter-wavelength radiation and warms up. When this happens, the Earth radiates energy as infrared radiation. Some of this infrared radiation passes back into space.

Certain gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane, absorb some of this infrared radiation. This causes the lower atmosphere layer to heat up. The gases that cause this atmospheric heating are known as greenhouse gases. The heating of the lower atmosphere by these gases is known as the greenhouse effect. Scientists are concerned that the warming of the lower atmosphere will cause excessive heating of Earth’s surface.

Now we know more about the greenhouse effect, let us look at our answer choices to decide which one best describes the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect happens when heat trapped by gases in the atmosphere warms the Earth. The best description of this process is found in answer choice (E). Atmospheric gases trapping heat and warming the planet’s surface is the correct answer.

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