Problem 3
Explain in terms of the mechanism involved what is meant by the greenhouse effect. Explain what is meant by the enhancement of the greenhouse effect.
Problem 4
Explain what is meant by the terms symmetric and antisymmetric bond-stretching vibrations and by bending vibrations.
Problem 7
What are the two main anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? What is its main sink? What is fixed carbon?
Problem 8
Is water vapor a greenhouse gas? If so, why is it not usually present on lists of such substances?
Problem 10
What is meant by the term atmospheric window as applied to the emission of IR from the Earth's surface? What is the range of wavelengths of this window?
Problem 12
What are four important trace gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect?
Problem 14
What are the three most important sinks for methane in the atmosphere? Which one of them is dominant? What is meant by the term clathrate compound?
Problem 15
Is the enhancement of the greenhouse effect by release of methane from clathrates due to increased temperature an example of feedback? If so, is it positive or negative feedback? Would an increase in the rate and amount of photosynthesis with increasing temperatures and \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) levels be a case of positive or negative feedback?
Problem 18
Are the proposed CFC replacements themselves greenhouse gases? Why is their emission considered to be less of a problem in enhancing the greenhouse effect than was that of the CFCs themselves?
Problem 19
By which two mechanisms does light interact with atmospheric particles?
