Earth's Energy Budget and Greenhouse Gases

Dr. Elinor Martin explains the Earth's energy budget, focusing on the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation. The presence of an atmosphere, particularly greenhouse gases, plays a crucial role in maintaining Earth's temperature. The video also discusses the impact of clouds, aerosols, and land use changes on the energy budget, highlighting the importance of understanding these processes for climate change predictions.

What determines the globally averaged temperature of Earth?

• The number of plants and animals

• The amount of water on the planet

• The balance of the Earth's energy budget

• The distance from the sun

What percentage of incoming solar energy is reflected back into space by the Earth's surface?

• 30%

• 10%

• 40%

• 20%

What would be the Earth's surface temperature without an atmosphere?

• 58°F

• 32°F

• 0°F

• 100°F

Which gas in the atmosphere absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation?

• Methane

• Water vapor

• Carbon dioxide

• Ozone

What is the primary effect of greenhouse gases on Earth's temperature?

• They reflect sunlight

• They have no effect

• They cool the Earth

• They trap heat and increase temperature

What has caused the concentrations of greenhouse gases to rise since the early 1900s?

• Natural disasters

• Solar flares

• Human activities

• Volcanic eruptions

What phenomenon is believed to have caused Venus to become the hottest planet in our solar system?

• Lack of an atmosphere

• Runaway greenhouse effect

• Proximity to the sun

• High volcanic activity

What percentage of Venus' atmosphere is carbon dioxide?

• 96.5%

• 50%

• 100%

• 75%

How do clouds affect the Earth's energy budget?

• They only cool the Earth

• They only warm the Earth

• They have no effect

• They both cool and warm the Earth

What is one of the areas of intense study related to the Earth's energy budget?

• The role of aerosols

• The effect of ocean currents

• The impact of tectonic activity

• The influence of the moon