Final Answer:
What are the greenhouse gases?
— Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), water vapor, and others
What do greenhouse gases do?
— Warm the atmosphere by trapping heat
What is the greenhouse effect?
— The warming of the atmosphere because of insulation by greenhouse gases
How does the greenhouse effect work?
— Incoming radiation from the sun reaches the Earth and is absorbed by the greenhouse gases, warming and insulating the Earth like a “blanket”
Is the greenhouse effect a good thing?
— Yes!! Because it maintains a temperature suitable for life
So why is the greenhouse effect considered a bad thing and is linked to global warming?
— Excess of the greenhouse effect is a bad thing. Since there are more and more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, more heat is trapped which makes the earth warmer. This is called global warming
Diagram blanks (in order):
1. Heat Radiation Reflected from the
Earth
2. Heat
Radiation Reflected Back to Earth
3. Layer of
Greenhouse Gases
(Also, arrows: Light Energy → Earth; Some Reflected Heat Radiation lost into
Space)
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of greenhouse gas worksheet.
