The Earth's atmosphere is made up of different gases, including carbon dioxide. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing due to human activity. This contributes to an increase in the greenhouse gas effect, global warming and climate change.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds a planet. The two most abundant gases in the Earth's atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen. Other gases present in the Earth's atmosphere include carbon dioxide, water vapour and the noble gases.
Note: Noble gases are the elements in Group 0 of the periodic table.
ATMOSPHERIC GAS
PERCENTAGE ABUNDANCE (%)
Nitrogen
78
Oxygen
21
Other gases
1
Climate change
Climate change is the global, long-term changes in weather patterns and temperature. A key aspect of climate change is global warming. Global warming refers to an increase the Earth's average temperature
The greenhouse gas effect
Greenhouse gases (atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation) prevent thermal energy from escaping back to space, which causes the Earth's surface to become warmer. The greenhouse gas effect is required, as otherwise all heat would be re-emitted back to space and the Earth would be too cold for most species to survive. However, human activity has led to an unusual increase in the greenhouse gas effect, which has led to global warming and climate change.
Key steps
1.
Electromagnetic radiation is emitted by the sun, reaching the Earth's atmosphere.
2.
Most of the electromagnetic radiation is re-emitted back into space.
3.
Some heat, in the form of infrared radiation, is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere; this is the greenhouse gas effect.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is an example of a greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a molecule consisting of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. Human activity has led to an unusually high increase in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide since 1750. This has increased the greenhouse gas effect, causing global warming and climate change
Effects of global warming
Global warming has many negative impacts on the environment.
Examples
Rising sea levels
Increase in extreme weather events, such as floods
Loss of habitats
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Learn with Basics
Learn the basics with theory units and practise what you learned with exercise sets!
Length:
Unit 1
Photosynthesis and plant adaptations
Unit 2
The carbon cycle
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Optional
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Unit 3
The atmosphere and carbon dioxide
Final Test
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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What are exothermic reactions?
Exothermic reactions release energy into the surroundings and arise when the products store less energy than the reactants.
What is climate change?
Climate change refers to global, long-term changes in the Earth's weather patterns and average temperature.
What is the greenhouse gas effect?
Greenhouse gases (atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation) prevent thermal energy escaping back to space, which causes the Earth's surface to become warmer.
