Question

2 (a) Explain what is meant by the Greenhouse effect and how does this relate to Global warming?

Answer 1

Answer:

(a) Greenhouse effect refers to the absorption of shorter wavelength of light that pass through a medium and the trapping of the longer wavelength of the light that pass through the medium but cannot return after being reflected within the penetrated enclosure, which leads to a rise in the exposure

The greenhouse effect on Earth is due to the absorption of the Sun's reflected thermal or infrared radiation by the greenhouse gases which includes methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor, that tends to raise the surface temperature of the Earth to that adequate for living

Global warming is the gradual increase in the Earth's temperature that is the result of greenhouse gas effect

(b) Four greenhouse gases found in our atmosphere are;

1) Carbon dioxide

2) Methane

3) Water vapor

4) Nitrous oxide

5) Ozone

6) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

(c) Four effect that the greenhouse gases have on the environment are;

1) Smog, and acid rain caused by SO₂

2) Depletion of the ozone layer and the formation of smog by nitrous oxide

3) Water vapor account for most of the observed greenhouse effect

4) CFCs deplete the ozone layer and warm the lower atmosphere

5) Ozone absorbs both UV and infrared radiation

6) Carbon dioxide traps radiation at ground level

d) Three things that can be done to reduce global warming are;

1) Switching of energy source to fuels having lower carbon content and renewable energy

2) Reduce leaks of methane by upgrading storage facilities

3) Reduction in the application of nitrogen based fertilizers

e) (i) The ozone layer is the layer of the upper atmosphere surrounding the Earth that is responsible for blocking radiations with wavelengths of less than 290 nanometers including some ultraviolet (UV) light which are harmful to life, from reaching the surface of the Earth

(ii) The ozone layer is located at about 15 km to 35 km above the Earth's surface

(iii) The ozone layer is rich in ozone, O₃

(f) (i) Ozone depletion is the observed decrease in the ozone located in the stratosphere

The effect of ozone depletion is the increase in the amount of UV radiation that reaches the Earth which can be harmful to human health

(ii) Ozone holes are regions or areas where the ozone coverage has been very much reduced

(iii) Four ways in which the ozone layer can be protected includes;

(1) Phasing out CFCs and other ozone depleting chemicals

(2) Reduction in the use of carbon based fuels that could increase the concentration of methane in the atmosphere

(3) Prevention of the proliferation of technologies that result in ozone depletion

(4) Guiding against the illegal use of ozone depleting substances

(5) Replacement of ozone depleting substance banks in equipment have their contents replaced with those that are environmentally friendly

Explanation: