1. Chapter 8 – The Biosphere
Greenhouse Effect

2. Greenhouse
Usually, a greenhouse is used to control climate and farm something regardless of the external conditions
Ex: it is winter but the inside is still warm
How do we keep the inside warm?

5. Global Warming
Def’n: A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere, generally attributed to increased levels of certain pollutants
Greenhouse Effect Def’n:
A natural process that allows the Earth to retain some heat it receives from the sun
Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would be much colder (-18°C)

7. Greenhouse Effect
Sunlight goes through the atmosphere (some is reflected into space)
Earth’s surface absorbs sun’s energy and heats up
The ground emits infrared rays that is sent to the atmosphere
Greenhouse gasses (GHGs) trap some IR rays and reflect them back to Earth, which heats up the Earth (some IR rays escape into space)

9. Pollutants
CO2, CH4 and N2O
N2O: used in fertilizer and created from combustion from car engines
H2O (clouds) also contribute to the greenhouse effect (but is not a pollutant per se)

10. Greenhouse Gases (Pollutants)
Water vapour (H2O), usually in the form of clouds
Not a pollutant per se
Carbon dioxide (CO2), major byproduct of combustion
Methane (CH4), agriculture and farm animals contribute the most
Nitrous oxide (N2O), mainly due to nitrogen-rich fertilizer and car engines
CO2 levels have increased greatly due to human activity but CH4 is significantly more potent (21x greater than CO2)

15. 6M sea level rise would submerge all in red

16. Negative side effects of global warming
Drought
Rising sea level
Fires
Disrupted ecosystems
Melting ice caps
Thawing of permafrost

18. Permafrost
Def’n: a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen through the year, occurring chiefly in arctic regions
In some areas, the top layer of the permafrost, called the active layer, thaws only in the summer. The lower layer remains frozen. Plants can grow during this sort period of time
The rise in global temperature has caused the permafrost to begin to thaw

19. Consequences
Land above it sinks or changes shape, causing roads, buildings, pipes and infrastructure to be damaged
Organic matter trapped in permafrost decomposes and releases CO2 and CH4
2a: Methane trapped in ice is released

21. Zombie Anthrax
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22. Consequences
4- Landslides can occur 5- Soil erosion (it wears down) and impacts plant and animal life

23. Past Exam Question