This key facts covers Key Facts About the Greenhouse Effect within Greenhouse Effect for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Greenhouse Effect in Atmosphere for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 2 of 13 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 2 of 13
Practice
20 questions
Recall
12 flashcards
📊 Key Facts About the Greenhouse Effect
- The natural greenhouse effect keeps Earth at +15°C instead of -18°C
- Main greenhouse gases: CO₂, CH₄ (methane), H₂O vapour, N₂O
- The Sun emits short-wave radiation (visible light, UV) that passes through the atmosphere
- Earth's surface absorbs this radiation and re-emits long-wave infrared radiation
- Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit this infrared radiation, warming the atmosphere
- N₂ and O₂ are NOT greenhouse gases — they do not absorb infrared radiation
- The enhanced greenhouse effect is caused by increased greenhouse gas concentrations from human activities