Science·Weather & Climate·conceptual
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
Suggested ages 11–12
Evidence of understanding
No evidence statements are recorded.
Assessment prompt
Can Greenhouse Gas Science 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?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.