Greenhouse Gases and Climate — Quiz

Question 7 • 26-27 - C - RUSD Chemistry in the Earth System

Which best describes how greenhouse gases trap heat?

Answer

Greenhouse gases absorb the sun's energy directly and prevent it from reaching the Earth's surface, causing the surface to cool down.

Greenhouse gases absorb IR radiation emitted by the Earth's surface and re-emit it back towards the Earth, trapping heat.

Greenhouse gases combine with IR radiation to form new compounds, removing the heat from the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases reflect the IR radiation into space, reducing the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere.

Explanation

Earth’s surface absorbs sunlight and then emits energy as infrared (IR) radiation. Greenhouse gases absorb some of this outgoing IR and re-emit it in different directions, including back toward the surface, which slows heat loss to space. Therefore, the best choice is “Greenhouse gases absorb IR radiation emitted by the Earth's surface and re-emit it back towards the Earth, trapping heat.”

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