Description
Important! Read FirstChoose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not do both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission.Option #1: Greenhouse Effect PaperIn this laboratory exercise, we will learn about the greenhouse effect and climate change through conducting a greenhouse effect simulation activity provided on the Hands-On Labs course website. Complete all parts of the worksheet provided; however, it will not be necessary to submit your original worksheet for this assignment.In a Word document, discuss all parts of this lab activity. Your essay should include the answers to all the worksheet questions. Do not include the original questions. Your answers should be presented in flowing paragraph form. Be sure to include all data tables and graphs from this activity in your paperRequirements:Be 3-4 pages in length (excluding tables, graphs, and other visuals, title page, or references list)Include 1-2 outside sourcesYour paper must be formatted according to the CSU Global Writing Center (Links to an external site.).If you need assistance with your writing style, start with the links under the Research Help and Writing Help tabs on the CSU Global Library’s (Links to an external site.) homepage.Option #2: Greenhouse Effect VideoIn this laboratory exercise, we will learn about the greenhouse effect and climate change through conducting a greenhouse effect simulation activity provided on the Hands-On Labs course website. Complete all parts of the worksheet provided; however, it will not be necessary to submit your original worksheet for this assignment.In a recorded video of approximately 5-10 minutes, discuss all parts of this lab activity. Your presentation should include the answers to all the worksheet questions. Be sure to show all data tables and graphs from this activity in your video. References and citations should be formatted according to the CSU Global Writing Center (Links to an external site.). and be provided on a separate paper that you turn in. To submit your video itself, please upload it to the web (YouTube, for example) and provide the URL where it can be accessed. Please do not attempt to upload your video directly to the CSU Global classroom.
BIO121L
The Greenhouse Effect
Final Report
Student Name
EBENEZER AMPONSAH
Student ID
164227
Lesson
The Greenhouse Effect
Institution
CSU-Global
Session
BIO121L – Figiel – Spring 2021 Section 2
Course
BIO121L
Instructor
Chester Figiel
Test Your Knowledge
1. Match each term with the best description.
Heat energy emitted from Earth’s
surface
Molecule that interacts with
infrared photons in the atmosphere
Light energy emitted from the sun
1
Greenhouse effect
2
Greenhouse gas
3
Solar radiation
4
Climate
5
Weather
6
Infrared radiation
Description of the average
atmospheric conditions of an area
for several decades
Description of short-term changes
in atmospheric temperature,
humidity, precipitation, and wind
speed
The process of the atmosphere
trapping heat and warming the
Earth
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
2. Order the greenhouse gases from most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere to least abundant.
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide
Exploration
1. Most _____ radiation interacts with Earth’s atmosphere and is either trapped there or reflected
back towards Earth’s surface.
longwave
shortwave
solar
None of the above
2. _____ is considered a greenhouse gas because it interacts with infrared radiation.
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Water vapor
All of the above
3. _____ is the most abundant greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere.
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
Methane
None of the above
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
4. Human activities contribute to the concentration of _____ in the atmosphere.
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide
All of the above
5. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere have
increased exponentially since 1750.
True
False
Exercise 1
1. How do atmospheric gases create the greenhouse effect?
During the day, the Sun shines through the atmosphere. Earth’s surface warms up in the sunlight. At night,
Earth’s surface cools, releasing heat back into the air. But some of the heat is trapped by the greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere. That’s what keeps our Earth a warm and cozy 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius),
on average.
2. How does the abundance, source, and action of water vapor differ from other greenhouse gases.
Water vapor will generally stay in the atmosphere for days (before precipitating out) while other greenhouse gases, such as
carbon dioxide or methane, will stay in the atmosphere for a much longer period of time (ranging from years to centuries)
thus contributing to warming for an extended period of time.
3. How do the results from the simulation support the relationship between human-emitted greenhouse gases and
current climate change? Reference Data Tables 1 and 2 in your answer.
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
4. What were the effects of adding clouds to the simulation runs? Reference Data Table 1 and Panel 2 in your answer.
Adding clouds cools the atmosphere
5. How might the environment be impacted if the Earth warmed to the temperatures recorded for maximum
greenhouse gas concentrations in Data Table 1?
The environment will be too warm for human to live in
6. Based on your knowledge of the human-caused sources of greenhouse gases, what can do you as an individual to
reduce emissions of these compounds?
By going green
Data Table 1: Simulation Temperature Response to Gas Concentrations
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
Clouds
No greenhouse gases (°C)
No
no
Yes
yes
Clouds
1750 concentrations (°C)
No
no
Yes
yes
Clouds
Today concentrations (°C)
No
no
Yes
yes
Clouds
Maximum concentrations (°C)
No
-14
Yes
-14
Data Table 2: Greenhouse Gas Composition
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
Date
H2O (% humidity)
1750
70%
Today
70
Date
CO2 (ppm)
1750
280ppm
Today
280ppm
Date
CH4 (ppm)
1750
0.730ppm
Today
0.730ppm
Date
N2O (ppm)
1750
0.720ppm
Today
0.720ppm
Panel 1: Observations with No Clouds
Freezing temperatures are observed with no clouds
Panel 2: Oberservations with Clouds
Temperature rises with clouds present
Competency Review
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
1. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap _____ radiation and warm the Earth.
infrared
solar
shortwave
All of the above
2. Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor are composed of two types of atoms connected in
asymmetric arrangements.
True
False
3. _____ can act as both a greenhouse gas and a cooling agent in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide
Nitrous oxide
Water vapor
All of the above
4. _____ contributes 9-26% of the greenhouse effect and remains in the atmosphere for over 30
years.
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide
None of the above
5. Earth’s current climate change event is most closely associated to changes in _____.
Earth’s orbit
greenhouse gas levels
solar irradiance
All of the above
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
6. Climate change can be observed as _____.
accelerated retreat of glaciers
arctic ice cap shrinkage
water vapor
All of the above
7. When utilizing a greenhouse effect simulation, sunlight photons increase in number as
greenhouse gas concentrations increase.
True
False
8. When utilizing a greenhouse effect simulation, clouds interact with both sunlight and infrared
photons.
True
False
9. Global average temperatures are predicted to increase by another _____ °C at maximum humanemitted greenhouse gas concentrations.
1
2
4
None of the above
Extension Questions
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
1. The warming effects of greenhouse gases have been unsuccessfully modeled by placing air, pure carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide in sealed jars and measuring temperature change within the jars when exposed to a light
source. Apply your knowledge of greenhouse gases to explain why this approach is inappropriate for modeling how
greenhouse gases retain heat in Earth’s atmosphere.
The main cause for the inappropriate approach is the size of the jar, the size of a jar is very less, so there
the amount of infrared radiation is very weak to get absorbed by the greenhouse gases like CO2, CH4
etc. As the absorption is less the heating will also be less.
The second thing is that it is a closed system, but our earth is not a closed system. By the presence of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere make that behave like a closed system for which the lower
atmosphere gets heated up. So if the temperature of the bottle will increase then it will increase only
because of the hot air can’t come outside because it is sealed. That’s why this method within a bottle is
different from the process what really works on the earth’s atmosphere.
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
BIO121L
The Greenhouse Effect
Final Report
Student Name
EBENEZER AMPONSAH
Student ID
164227
Lesson
The Greenhouse Effect
Institution
CSU-Global
Session
BIO121L – Figiel – Spring 2021 Section 2
Course
BIO121L
Instructor
Chester Figiel
Test Your Knowledge
1. Match each term with the best description.
Heat energy emitted from Earth’s
surface
Molecule that interacts with
infrared photons in the atmosphere
Light energy emitted from the sun
1
Greenhouse effect
2
Greenhouse gas
3
Solar radiation
4
Climate
5
Weather
6
Infrared radiation
Description of the average
atmospheric conditions of an area
for several decades
Description of short-term changes
in atmospheric temperature,
humidity, precipitation, and wind
speed
The process of the atmosphere
trapping heat and warming the
Earth
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
2. Order the greenhouse gases from most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere to least abundant.
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide
Exploration
1. Most _____ radiation interacts with Earth’s atmosphere and is either trapped there or reflected
back towards Earth’s surface.
longwave
shortwave
solar
None of the above
2. _____ is considered a greenhouse gas because it interacts with infrared radiation.
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Water vapor
All of the above
3. _____ is the most abundant greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere.
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
Methane
None of the above
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
4. Human activities contribute to the concentration of _____ in the atmosphere.
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide
All of the above
5. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere have
increased exponentially since 1750.
True
False
Exercise 1
1. How do atmospheric gases create the greenhouse effect?
During the day, the Sun shines through the atmosphere. Earth’s surface warms up in the sunlight. At night,
Earth’s surface cools, releasing heat back into the air. But some of the heat is trapped by the greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere. That’s what keeps our Earth a warm and cozy 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius),
on average.
2. How does the abundance, source, and action of water vapor differ from other greenhouse gases.
Water vapor will generally stay in the atmosphere for days (before precipitating out) while other greenhouse gases, such as
carbon dioxide or methane, will stay in the atmosphere for a much longer period of time (ranging from years to centuries)
thus contributing to warming for an extended period of time.
3. How do the results from the simulation support the relationship between human-emitted greenhouse gases and
current climate change? Reference Data Tables 1 and 2 in your answer.
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
4. What were the effects of adding clouds to the simulation runs? Reference Data Table 1 and Panel 2 in your answer.
Adding clouds cools the atmosphere
5. How might the environment be impacted if the Earth warmed to the temperatures recorded for maximum
greenhouse gas concentrations in Data Table 1?
The environment will be too warm for human to live in
6. Based on your knowledge of the human-caused sources of greenhouse gases, what can do you as an individual to
reduce emissions of these compounds?
By going green
Data Table 1: Simulation Temperature Response to Gas Concentrations
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
Clouds
No greenhouse gases (°C)
No
no
Yes
yes
Clouds
1750 concentrations (°C)
No
no
Yes
yes
Clouds
Today concentrations (°C)
No
no
Yes
yes
Clouds
Maximum concentrations (°C)
No
-14
Yes
-14
Data Table 2: Greenhouse Gas Composition
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
Date
H2O (% humidity)
1750
70%
Today
70
Date
CO2 (ppm)
1750
280ppm
Today
280ppm
Date
CH4 (ppm)
1750
0.730ppm
Today
0.730ppm
Date
N2O (ppm)
1750
0.720ppm
Today
0.720ppm
Panel 1: Observations with No Clouds
Freezing temperatures are observed with no clouds
Panel 2: Oberservations with Clouds
Temperature rises with clouds present
Competency Review
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
1. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap _____ radiation and warm the Earth.
infrared
solar
shortwave
All of the above
2. Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor are composed of two types of atoms connected in
asymmetric arrangements.
True
False
3. _____ can act as both a greenhouse gas and a cooling agent in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide
Nitrous oxide
Water vapor
All of the above
4. _____ contributes 9-26% of the greenhouse effect and remains in the atmosphere for over 30
years.
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide
None of the above
5. Earth’s current climate change event is most closely associated to changes in _____.
Earth’s orbit
greenhouse gas levels
solar irradiance
All of the above
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
6. Climate change can be observed as _____.
accelerated retreat of glaciers
arctic ice cap shrinkage
water vapor
All of the above
7. When utilizing a greenhouse effect simulation, sunlight photons increase in number as
greenhouse gas concentrations increase.
True
False
8. When utilizing a greenhouse effect simulation, clouds interact with both sunlight and infrared
photons.
True
False
9. Global average temperatures are predicted to increase by another _____ °C at maximum humanemitted greenhouse gas concentrations.
1
2
4
None of the above
Extension Questions
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
1. The warming effects of greenhouse gases have been unsuccessfully modeled by placing air, pure carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide in sealed jars and measuring temperature change within the jars when exposed to a light
source. Apply your knowledge of greenhouse gases to explain why this approach is inappropriate for modeling how
greenhouse gases retain heat in Earth’s atmosphere.
The main cause for the inappropriate approach is the size of the jar, the size of a jar is very less, so there
the amount of infrared radiation is very weak to get absorbed by the greenhouse gases like CO2, CH4
etc. As the absorption is less the heating will also be less.
The second thing is that it is a closed system, but our earth is not a closed system. By the presence of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere make that behave like a closed system for which the lower
atmosphere gets heated up. So if the temperature of the bottle will increase then it will increase only
because of the hot air can’t come outside because it is sealed. That’s why this method within a bottle is
different from the process what really works on the earth’s atmosphere.
Copyright 2021 – Science Interactive | https://scienceinteractive.com
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