The earth is heated by the sun’s rays that reach the earth through the atmosphere. In this way, the surface of our earth heats up and then radiates heat back into the atmosphere. Those gases that keep our Earth warm are extremely important for life on earth because the temperature on the surface of the earth would be much lower.

The earth is heated by the sun’s rays that reach the earth through the atmosphere. In this way, the surface of our earth heats up and then radiates heat back into the atmosphere.

The greenhouse effect involves an envelope of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water molecules that vibrate to absorb the energy from infrared radiation and the molecules can reradiate it in various directions

a) a greenhouse gas is a gas containing molecules capable of absorbing infrared energy – the greenhouse effect

b) Methane, water, and carbon dioxide are common, natural greenhouse gases

a) a greenhouse gas is a gas containing molecules capable of absorbing infrared energy – the greenhouse effect

The ability to vibrate in different ways allows for contribution to the greenhouse effect and the abundance of said gas affect its ability to contribute

If ice prohibited the growth of forests, greenhouse gas levels would in turn increase and heat the environment, effectively melting the ice age

a) humans breathe out carbon dioxide

b) Cows burp out methane

c) fuel combustion and agriculture release nitrous oxide

d) Humans breathe out water vapor and some evaporates out of bodies of water

a) humans breathe out carbon dioxide

Greenhouse gas molecules can vibrate in multiple directions where oxygen and nitrogen can only vibrate back and forth.