Earth's atmosphere reflects or absorbs some sunlight
but allows most of the visible light pass through to
Earth's surface.
Atmosphere affects light in 4 ways:
•absorb light
•reflect light
•let light pass through it
•can emit (give off) light
Ozone: A protective layer of gas that is made of the
three atoms of Oxygen.
List Characteristics for the Ozone:
•
* Protectant in the Stratosphere
•
* Pollutant in the Troposphere
•
* Protects Earth by absorbing UV Rays
Ultraviolet Radiation:
– More energy than visible light, can cause sunburn &
damage tissue
Infrared Radiation
– Less energy than visible light
– Warms materials that absorb it
Both
Waves of energy
The Ozone protects Earth by:
– Absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from
the sun, while allowing other types of
radiation, such as visible light & infrared
radiation, to get through
Describe 3 characteristics for Greenhouse
Effect:
1. Caused by greenhouse gases
2. Gases absorb infrared radiation
3. Gases give off infrared radiation
Describe greenhouse gases and list examples
– The gases that cause the greenhouse effect
•
•
•
•
Water vapor
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
How does the greenhouse effect interact with
the Sun’s energy?
Solar radiation heats Earth’s surface, and the
surface gives off infrared radiation. The
greenhouse gases absorb some of the infrared
radiation. The gases release the radiation, and
some of it warms Earth.