Insolation and Greenhouse Effect

What is "insolation"?

• Incoming solar radiation reaching Earth
• Outgoing heat from Earth’s core
• Infrared radiation from the Moon
• Reflected light from Earth’s surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which factor increases the amount of solar energy absorbed by Earth’s surface?

• Dark, rough surfaces
• Light, smooth surfaces
• High cloud cover
• Ice and snow cover

How do greenhouse gases warm Earth's atmosphere?

• They absorb infrared energy re-radiated from Earth’s surface
• They block visible light from entering
• They reflect UV rays from the Sun
• They create ozone in the stratosphere

Which gas is a major contributor to the enhanced greenhouse effect?

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
• Oxygen (O₂)
• Nitrogen (N₂)
• Argon (Ar)

What type of radiation is mostly emitted by Earth’s surface?

• Infrared radiation
• Ultraviolet radiation
• Gamma rays
• X-rays

Why does the loss of glaciers contribute to more warming?

• Ice reflects sunlight; without it, more energy is absorbed
• Glaciers produce ozone which cools the atmosphere
• Ice releases methane when it melts
• Glaciers block solar flares

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

What causes the seasons on Earth?

• The tilt of Earth’s axis
• The distance from the Sun
• The rotation of the Moon
• Solar flares

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What happens to some solar radiation when it reaches Earth?

• It is absorbed, reflected, or transmitted
• It is all absorbed by plants
• It is turned into electricity
• It is deflected by magnetic fields

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Which surface would absorb the most solar radiation?

• Black asphalt
• Snow
• White sand
• Mirror

What is one effect of rising global temperatures?

• More frequent droughts
• More moonquakes
• Decreased solar output
• More volcanic eruptions

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5