Greenhouse Gases Old

What are the Greenhouse Gases?

They are gases which cause the "Greenhouse Effect". They include Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, Water Vapour, Ozone, and Methane

Many of the processes which create them are man-made, such as driving cars, flying, raising animals for food, and manufacturing goods.

Word 1

Dictionary/Wikipedia Explanation

Word 2

Dictionary/Wikipedia Explanation

But why are they called "Greenhouse" gases?

They get their names from the way that a greenhouse works. A greenhouse lets through sunlight and heat, but doesn't let it escape.

The gases work in the same way with the planet, they trap the heat caused by the sun inside the earth's atmosphere.

What if there were none!

Each Greenhouse Gas affects the atmosphere in different ways, some create the barrier, some allow more sunlight through, and in reality...WE NEED THEM.

If we never had greenhouse gases, our planet would be too cold to live on.

So what is the problem?

We are upsetting their natural balance. We are stopping them from doing the job they have been very good at for a long time.

Too much of them has the opposite effect of heating the planet up...and that is why they are a cause of Global Warming.

Quick Quiz:
(Click To see Answer)

Q1: Name any 3 of the Greenhouse Gases listed above:

A: Water Vapour
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Methane
Ozone
Nitrous Oxide
CFC's

Q2. How do they warm up the planet

A: By trapping the sun's heat inside our atmosphere.

Q3: Do we need greenhouse gases?

A: Yes, they help keep the planet just the right temperature for us to live.

Q4: What Happens if we have too much of them?

A: That will cause the Earth to heat up!

Back to Atmosphere

Back to Climate Change