Questions: How do greenhouse gasses contribute to the Earth's temperature?

Transcript text: How do greenhouse gasses contribute to the Earth's temperature?

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Absorption of Infrared Radiation

Greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide (\( \text{CO}_2 \)), methane (\( \text{CH}_4 \)), and water vapor (\( \text{H}_2\text{O} \)), absorb infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface.

Step 2: Re-radiation of Energy

After absorbing the infrared radiation, these gases re-radiate the energy in all directions, including back towards the Earth's surface.

Step 3: Warming Effect

The re-radiated energy increases the thermal energy in the atmosphere and at the Earth's surface, leading to an overall warming effect known as the greenhouse effect.

Final Answer

The greenhouse gases contribute to the Earth's temperature by absorbing and re-radiating infrared radiation, leading to an overall warming effect known as the greenhouse effect.

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