How does the burning of fossil fuels contribute to global warming?(1 point)

Responses

Burning fossil fuels removes oxygen and other gases from the atmosphere.
Burning fossil fuels removes oxygen and other gases from the atmosphere.

Burning fossil fuels introduces carbon dioxide to parts of the atmosphere that never had it.
Burning fossil fuels introduces carbon dioxide to parts of the atmosphere that never had it.

Burning fossil fuels adds greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, to the atmosphere.
Burning fossil fuels adds greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, to the atmosphere.

Burning fossil fuels removes carbon dioxide and other gases from the atmosphere.

Burning fossil fuels removes carbon dioxide and other gases from the atmosphere.

The correct statement is:

Burning fossil fuels adds greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, to the atmosphere.

The correct answer is: "Burning fossil fuels adds greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, to the atmosphere."

To understand how burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming, we need to understand the greenhouse effect. The Earth's atmosphere contains gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), that act as a "blanket" around the planet. These gases trap heat from the sun and prevent it from escaping back into space, thus keeping the Earth warm.

When fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) are burned for energy, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This additional carbon dioxide increases the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect. As a result, more heat is trapped near the Earth's surface, leading to a warmer climate, which is known as global warming.

The release of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is a major contributor to the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations over the past century. It is not only the burning of fossil fuels that adds CO2 to the atmosphere; deforestation and land-use changes also release significant amounts of carbon dioxide.

It is important to note that while carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas, there are other gases produced by burning fossil fuels, such as methane and nitrous oxide, which have even higher warming potentials. These gases are often released during the extraction, transportation, and use of fossil fuels.

Understanding the link between burning fossil fuels and global warming is crucial for developing sustainable energy alternatives and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Which describes the relationship between the concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (blue line) and average global temperatures (red line) over time?

(1 point)
Responses

Carbon dioxide increased significantly after the Industrial Revolution that ended in 1840, but global temperatures remained constant.
Carbon dioxide increased significantly after the Industrial Revolution that ended in 1840, but global temperatures remained constant.

Both carbon dioxide and global temperatures begin to increase significantly after the Industrial Revolution that ended in 1840.
Both carbon dioxide and global temperatures begin to increase significantly after the Industrial Revolution that ended in 1840.

Carbon dioxide increased significantly prior to the Industrial Revolution that ended in 1840, but global temperatures remained constant.
Carbon dioxide increased significantly prior to the Industrial Revolution that ended in 1840, but global temperatures remained constant.

Both carbon dioxide and global temperatures increased significantly prior to the Industrial Revolution that ended in 1840.

The correct answer is:

Both carbon dioxide and global temperatures begin to increase significantly after the Industrial Revolution that ended in 1840.

Which describes the trapping of heat energy due to high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?(1 point)

Responses

weather patterns
weather patterns

global warming
global warming

greenhouse effect
greenhouse effect

climate change

The correct answer is:

greenhouse effect