What happens when there is an excessive amount of CO2 a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere?
NASA has observed increases in the amount of carbon dioxide and some other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Too much of these greenhouse gases can cause Earth’s atmosphere to trap more and more heat. This causes Earth to warm up.
What happens when more greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere?
The added greenhouse gases absorb the heat. They then radiate this heat. Some of the heat will head away from the Earth, some of it will be absorbed by another greenhouse gas molecule, and some of it will wind up back at the planet’s surface again. With more greenhouse gases, heat will stick around, warming the planet.
Why would an increase in carbon dioxide be bad for the Earth?
The major threat from increased CO2 is the greenhouse effect. As a greenhouse gas, excessive CO2 creates a cover that traps the sun’s heat energy in the atmospheric bubble, warming the planet and the oceans. An increase in CO2 plays havoc with the Earth’s climates by causing changes in weather patterns.
How would an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere change the greenhouse effect?
Carbon dioxide causes about 20 percent of Earth’s greenhouse effect; water vapor accounts for about 50 percent; and clouds account for 25 percent. Likewise, when carbon dioxide concentrations rise, air temperatures go up, and more water vapor evaporates into the atmosphere—which then amplifies greenhouse heating.
What do you expect to happen if you increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere quizlet?
These gases help regulate the temperature of Earth. Due to the burning of large amounts of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has dramatically increased (burning fossil fuels releases Carbon Dioxide). All water on Earth would freeze. The oceans would turn to ice.