Atmospheric greenhouse effect means that the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb the ...

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Question: Atmospheric greenhouse effect means that the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb the ...

Option 1: infrared earth surface radiation
- This is the correct concept. Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface after it has been heated by solar energy. This absorption traps heat in the lower atmosphere and surface, leading to warming.

Option 2: infrared solar radiation
- Solar radiation arriving at Earth is mainly in the visible range, with some near-infrared, but greenhouse gases do not primarily absorb the incoming solar infrared in a way that drives the greenhouse effect. The key heat-trapping occurs from re-radiated infrared from the surface, not direct absorption of solar infrared.

Option 3: ultraviolet solar radiation
- Ultraviolet radiation is mostly absorbed by the upper atmosphere (e.g., ozone layer) and is not the major component involved in the atmospheric greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases interact more with infrared wavelengths emitted by the surface than with UV wavelengths.

Option 4: visible solar radiation
- Visible light from the Sun passes through the atmosphere and mostly reaches the surface, where it is converted to heat and eventually radiated as infrared. The greenhouse effect is not due to absorption of visible light by greenhouse gases; it is due to absorption of infrared radiation emitted by the warmed surface.

Summary: Each option contrasts different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The defining mechanism of the atmospheric greenhouse effect is the absorption of infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface by greenhouse gases, which then re-radiate heat and warm the lower atmosphere and surface.

CLMTGR5001_002_2025_3 - Dynamics of Climate Variability and Chan PRACTICE QUIZ: Week 2 Lecture 3

Atmospheric greenhouse effect means that the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb the ...

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