9.3 The Greenhouse Effect

Identify the greenhouse gases.

• The principal greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• While water vapor is a greenhouse gas, it doesn’t contribute significantly to global climate change because it has a short residence time in the atmosphere.
• The greenhouse effect results in the surface temperature necessary for life on Earth to exist.
• Enduring understanding STB-4: Local and regional human activities can have impacts at the global level.

Identify the sources and potency of the greenhouse gases.

• Carbon dioxide, which has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1, is used as a reference point for the comparison of different greenhouse gases and their impacts on global climate change. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have the highest GWP, followed by nitrous oxide, then methane.
• Enduring understanding STB-4: Local and regional human activities can have impacts at the global level.