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What do trees have to do with the greenhouse effect?

Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse gases trap heat around Earth. This GCSE Geography quiz tests how the greenhouse effect works, why it is increasing, and what it means for our climate.

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Fascinating Fact:

Understanding the greenhouse effect helps geographers and scientists explain why reducing emissions is vital for limiting future climate change.

In GCSE Geography, the greenhouse effect is studied as a key driver of climate change. You learn how energy from the Sun, greenhouse gases, and human activities interact to warm the atmosphere. The topic links to global temperature patterns, extreme weather, and international efforts to reduce emissions through targets, agreements, and changes in energy use.

Key Terms

Greenhouse effect: The natural process where certain gases trap heat in the atmosphere and keep the Earth warm enough for life.
Greenhouse gas: A gas, such as carbon dioxide or methane, that absorbs and re-emits heat energy in the atmosphere.
Enhanced greenhouse effect: Extra warming of the Earth caused by human activities that increase greenhouse gas concentrations.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is the greenhouse effect in GCSE Geography?

In GCSE Geography, the greenhouse effect is explained as the way greenhouse gases trap some outgoing heat, keeping Earth warm. Without it, the planet would be too cold for most life.

Which gases cause the enhanced greenhouse effect?

The main gases linked to the enhanced greenhouse effect are carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, methane from farming and waste, and nitrous oxide from fertilisers and industry.

How does the greenhouse effect link to climate change?

When greenhouse gas levels rise, more heat is trapped in the atmosphere. This raises average global temperatures, which contributes to climate change, melting ice, and changing rainfall patterns.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which of the following statements is not true?

The greenhouse effect and global warming are the same thing

The greenhouse effect is essential for life to exist on Earth

Methane is a greenhouse gas

Global warming has both natural and human causes

The greenhouse effect and global warming are linked but are far from being the same. The greenhouse effect is just a part of global warming

2 .

At the present time, scientists have discovered that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is ...

gradually increasing

gradually decreasing

staying the same

rapidly increasing

Since the middle of the twentieth century, scientists have measured a gradual increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere

3 .

The greenhouse effect causes ...

climate change

an increase in the average temperature at the surface of the Earth

both of the above

neither of the above

The increase in average temperature is referred to as global warming

4 .

What is believed to be the main human influence on the greenhouse effect?

Making buildings from sustainable wood

The increasing need for energy

Burning fossil fuels to supply our energy needs

Turning down the heating in homes

You may have been tempted by the second option, however, it is the burning of fossil fuels that puts more and more carbon dioxide into the air, adding to the greenhouse gases already there

5 .

Why does the greenhouse effect cause climate change?

It causes the atmosphere to expand

It creates more air pollution in cities

It causes a lot of holes to appear in the ozone layer

There is more energy in the atmosphere

Climate is driven by the amount of energy in the atmosphere. On no account should you ever associate the holes in the ozone layer with the greenhouse effect (or climate change or global warming). They are separate and very different issues. This confusion is caused because the CFCs that cause the ozone layer problem are also very powerful greenhouse gases

6 .

Which of the following is not a result of the greenhouse effect causing global warming?

Rising sea levels

Increased levels of acid rain

Increased occurrences of hurricanes

More droughts and flooding

Acid rain is caused by acidic gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides getting into the air. A lot of students associate this with the greenhouse effect because both problems are partly caused by humans burning fossil fuels

7 .

The countries that emit the greatest percentages of greenhouse gases into the air are ...

MEDCs

LEDCs

MEDCs and NEEs

Southern hemisphere countries

MEDCs have well-developed manufacturing industries which use a lot of energy derived from fossil fuels and there is usually a greater use of motorised transport per head of population than in LEDCs. NEEs (newly emerging economies) are building their manufacturing bases and cannot yet afford (or are unwilling to invest in) the technology to limit their increasing carbon footprint

8 .

Which of the following is a practical way to reduce human impact on the greenhouse effect?

Convert atmospheric carbon dioxide to carbon and oxygen

Extract the greenhouse gases from the air and shoot them into space on rockets

Carbon capture

Dioxide capture

Carbon capture is achieved by planting trees. They use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen

9 .

Why is the greenhouse effect sometimes called the enhanced greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence, human activity is adding to it

The greenhouse effect is continually increasing

The greenhouse effect is naturally decreasing

More greenhouse gases are being added to the atmosphere whenever a comet passes close to the Earth

Enhanced means 'added to'. Human activity is thought by many people to add to the naturally occuring greenhouse effect

10 .

As well as burning fossil fuels, which one of the following is considered to be increasing the greenhouse effect?

Desertification

Overfishing

Green belt

Deforestation

In tropical rainforests, deforestation is occuring at an alarmingly fast rate. The trees and plants in rainforests grow all year round and constantly remove carbon dioxide from the air. When they are cleared for agriculture, much less carbon dioxide is removed from the air

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - The greenhouse effect

Author: Kev Woodward (PGCE, Science & Chemistry Teacher, Quiz Writer)