The Greenhouse Effect Webquest



The Greenhouse Effect Webquest

Introduction: This activity provides an introduction of the earth's atmospheric "greenhouse effect" by briefly exploring the atmospheres of nearby planets and discussing our atmosphere's greenhouse gases. From this activity, you should understand the following:

• The earth's "greenhouse effect" is what makes this planet suitable for life as we know it.

• The earth's atmosphere contains trace gases, some of which absorb heat. These gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide) are referred to as "greenhouse gases." 

• Albedo has an important influence on the earth's temperature.

• Greenhouses are structures designed to retain heat.

• The heat-trapping ability of a greenhouse is influenced by a number of factors including the transparency of the greenhouse cover, color of the surfaces inside the greenhouse, and type of surfaces inside.

Part 1: Read through the following site to answer the following questions (linked on Moodle/Website)



1. The Goldilocks Principle can be summed up neatly as "Venus is too hot, Mars is too cold, and Earth is just right."

a. What does the web site report as the surface temperatures for the three “Goldilocks Planets”?

Venus: _________ Earth _________ Mars: __________

2. Parts of our atmosphere act like a “blanket. What is the “blanket” composed of?

a. Explain this analogy between a blanket and the atmosphere.

3. Compare the “blanket” present on Venus, Earth, and Mars.

4. What are the four major Greenhouse Gases and their formulas?

Look at the graph about Solar Radiation. The X axis of this graph contains the various sizes of radiation of the electromagnetic spectrum (X- rays on the left have the smallest wavelength, while Radio waves on the right have the largest wavelength). The Y axis of this graph indicates increased concentration of these types of radiation. Use the graph and paragraph below it to answer the next questions

5. What is the size range of a single wavelength of visible light? (nm means nanometer)

6. What is the size range of a single wavelength of infrared light?

The yellow line on this graph indicates the types and concentrations of the radiation released by our sun.

7. What kinds of radiation does our sun release?

8. Where on the electromagnetic spectrum is our sun’s energy the highest concentration?

Look at the next diagram which shows how the Sun’s energy is either absorbed or reflected by various parts

of our Earth system. Use the diagram and paragraph below it to answer the following questions

9. How much of our Sun’s energy make it all the way through the atmosphere to the surface of the earth? (both absorbed and reflected from the surface)

10. How much of our Sun’s energy is actually absorbed by the surface of the Earth?

11. Once the energy has been absorbed it is re-radiated from the Earth as what kind of energy?

12. Why is it that the Earth doesn’t get VERY HOT during the day and LOSE ALL OUR HEAT AT NIGHT?

13. How do Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gases work to absorb infrared radiation?

14. Why don’t Nitrogen gas (N2) and Oxygen (O2) gas act as greenhouse gases too?

15. What other factors influence the Greenhouse effect?

Part 2: Use the site below to answer the following questions

Global Climate Change



16. Why is the Earth getting warmer?

Click on ‘Find out how and why the climate is changing”

17. What is the main reason why the climate is changing?

Click on “Greenhouse Gases”

18. Use the pie chart to list the name of the major greenhouse gas from people’s activities and the %.

At the top of the screen, scroll over “See the Impacts” then click on “The Signs of Climate Change”.

19. List the signs of climate change below:

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