- Why is carbon dioxide the most important greenhouse gas?
- How does the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere affect the atmosphere’s
temperature?
Vocabulary
albedo The amount of light that reflects back off a surface; snow and ice have high albedo.
conduction Heat transfer between molecules in motion.
convection Heat transfer by the movement of currents.
convection cell A heat transfer unit in which warm material rises, cold material sinks,
and material moves between the two to create a cell.
electromagnetic waves Radiationtravelsinelectromagneticwaves; wavesthathaveboth
electrical and magnetic properties.
energy The ability to work; energy is not created or destroyed but can be transferred from
one form to another.
greenhouse effect The trapping of heat that is radiated out from the planet’s surface by
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and moderates a planet’s temperatures.
insulation A material that inhibits heat or electricity conduction so that the insulated
object stays at its current temperature for longer.
latent heat The energy taken in or released as a substance changes state from solid to
liquid or liquid to gas.
radiation The movement of energy through a material or through space, as carried by
electromagnetic waves.
reflection The return of a wave from a surface, such as a light wave from a mirror.
specific heat The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of material
by 1oC (1.8oF).