The diagram represents how the greenhouse effect warms the Earth. Radiation of type Y is trapped by gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. What is radiat...
Question 1 Report
The diagram represents how the greenhouse effect warms the Earth. Radiation of type Y is trapped by gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. What is radiation Y?
Answer Details
Short-wavelength radiation from the Sun passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by the ground, warming it. The warmed Earth then radiates energy back upwards, but at a much longer wavelength, as infra-red or heat radiation. That upward arrow is Y. Greenhouse gas molecules such as carbon dioxide and methane absorb infra-red and re-emit some of it downwards, so the energy is trapped and the lower atmosphere warms.
Ultraviolet has a shorter wavelength than visible light and is the radiation absorbed by the ozone layer, a completely separate issue. Sound waves are vibrations of matter and cannot cross space. Visible light mostly passes straight back out. Remember: sunlight in, infra-red out and trapped.
Download The App On Google Playstore
Everything you need to excel in your exams
