S3 The Greenhouse Effect — D level

What are we learning in this activity?

Describe greenhouse gases

The Greenhouse Gases

Carbon Dioxide

Strength: 1

Amount in the air: A lot

Sources: Living things, burning fuels

Lifespan: Long

Methane

Strength: 43

Amount in the air: A little

Sources: Natural gas, cows

Lifespan: Short

Nitrous Oxide

Strength: 225

Amount in air: Tiny

Sources: Burning fuels

Lifespan: Long

Water vapour

Strength: 0.01

Amount in air: Heaps

Sources: Evaporation from oceans etc.

Lifespan: Very short

Answer these questions about the greenhouse gases:

Which gas is the strongest?
Which gases have a long lifespan?
Which gas is made by cows?
Which gas is made when we burn fuel?

We hear a lot about carbon dioxide causing climate change. This is because the amount of it in the air has changed a lot.

Look at this graph of carbon dioxide.

Answer these questions about the graph:

How much time does the graph show?
What was the highest amount of carbon dioxide (until now)?
What was the amount of carbon dioxide in 2018?

Notes: Strength of a greenhouse gas quoted is “radiative efficiency”, because we’re listing lifespan separately. “Global Warming Potential” that you usually find includes both measures.