Greenhouse Gas Science
Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and distinguish between short-wave solar radiation and long-wave infrared radiation emitted by Earth; explain how greenhouse gas molecules (CO2, CH4, N2O, H2O) absorb and re-emit infrared through molecular vibration while O2 and N2 do not; distinguish the natural greenhouse effect (which makes Earth habitable) from the enhanced greenhouse effect driven by human emissions; evaluate the relative potency of different greenhouse gases
Teaching approaches
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1 approach
Can your child explain, in terms of light and energy, why CO2 in the atmosphere traps heat but nitrogen and oxygen — which make up most of the air — don't? What's physically different about CO2 molecules?
Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and distinguish between short-wave solar radiation and long-wave infrared radiation emitted by Earth; explain how greenhouse gas molecules (CO2, CH4, N2O, H2O) absorb and re-emit infrared through molecular vibration while O2 and N2 do not; distinguish the natural greenhouse effect (which makes Earth habitable) from the enhanced greenhouse effect driven by human emissions; evaluate the relative potency of different greenhouse gases
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“Can your child explain, in terms of light and energy, why CO2 in the atmosphere traps heat but nitrogen and oxygen — which make up most of the air — don't? What's physically different about CO2 molecules?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Weather & Climate
- Age range
- Ages 11–12