The Natural Greenhouse Effect and Earth's Energy Balance

Try these questions

3 questions from this lesson’s quiz. Start the lesson to answer them and see the right answers.

1. 1. Why do nitrogen (N_2) and oxygen (O_2) not act as greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere?

   • A. Their symmetrical diatomic molecules show no change in dipole moment when they vibrate, so they do not absorb infrared
   • B. They exist only as liquid droplets in high clouds
   • C. They reflect all incoming shortwave radiation before it reaches the surface
   • D. Their molecular mass is too small to interact with electromagnetic radiation

2. 2. Which statement correctly compares the radiation that Earth receives with the radiation that Earth's surface emits?

   • A. Earth receives mainly shortwave radiation and the warm surface emits longwave infrared
   • B. Earth receives mainly longwave infrared and the warm surface emits shortwave radiation
   • C. Both the incoming and outgoing radiation are mainly ultraviolet
   • D. Both the incoming and outgoing radiation are mainly microwaves

3. 3. At the top of the atmosphere, Earth receives an average of 340 W/m^2 of solar power. About 100 W/m^2 is reflected directly to space. If Earth is in thermal equilibrium, how much power must be emitted as thermal infrared radiation?

   Type your answer (in W/m^2) in the lesson.

More in Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change

• ▸Anthropogenic Drivers of Climate Change
• ▸Local and Global Impacts of Climate Change
• ▸Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and Policy
• ▸Origin of the Universe and Evolution of Astrophysics

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