Grade 10 physics – 4.1 Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change Quiz

Greenhouse gases (like CO2 and water vapour) absorb infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface and re‑radiate some back, keeping the planet warmer than it would be without them.

CO2 is the main long‑lived greenhouse gas emitted by human activities (fossil fuel combustion and land use change) and drives long‑term warming.

Deforestation and burning of biomass (charcoal production, clearing for farms) release stored carbon as CO2, increasing atmospheric levels.

Kenya has experienced changing rainfall patterns and more frequent droughts and floods, consistent with expected climate change impacts.

The enhanced greenhouse effect refers to additional warming due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases from human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Ruminant animals produce methane during digestion (enteric fermentation); in Kenya, livestock is a major methane source.

ppm means parts per million and is used to express the concentration of gases like CO2 in the atmosphere.

Albedo is the fraction of incoming solar radiation reflected back to space; surfaces like ice have high albedo, forests lower albedo.

Renewable energy (solar, wind) produces little or no CO2 compared with burning charcoal, diesel or petrol, directly reducing emissions.

The IPCC assesses scientific information on climate change and provides reports used by governments worldwide.

Warming oceans expand and melting glaciers and ice sheets add water to the oceans, both causing sea‑level rise.

Carbon sinks absorb more CO2 than they release; forests and healthy soils store carbon and help lower atmospheric CO2.

Methane traps more heat per molecule than CO2 over short timescales, though it stays in the atmosphere for a shorter period.

When ice melts, darker surfaces are exposed that absorb more sunlight, causing further warming in a positive feedback loop.

Drought‑tolerant seeds and techniques like mulching, water harvesting and drip irrigation help farmers cope with reduced and variable rainfall.

Sea surface temperature affects evaporation rates, atmospheric circulation and the strength of storms, so it is a key climate indicator.

When nitrogen fertilisers are applied in excess, microbes can convert some nitrogen into nitrous oxide, which is a potent greenhouse gas.

Radiative forcing is the difference between incoming and outgoing energy caused by changes such as increased greenhouse gas concentrations; positive forcing causes warming.

The stratospheric ozone layer filters out much of the Sun's UV radiation, protecting life on Earth; it is separate from greenhouse gases that trap heat.

Planting trees and restoring forests increases carbon uptake by vegetation and soils, acting as a carbon sink and removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Anthropogenic refers to effects or emissions that originate from human actions, such as burning fossil fuels or deforestation.

Agreements such as the Paris Agreement ask countries to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts to avoid dangerous warming.

Aerosols can scatter sunlight, producing a cooling effect, but they also cause health problems; their climate effect is usually short term and complex.

Climate is defined by long‑term averages and trends (decades or more), while weather refers to short‑term conditions.

Solar energy is renewable and emits little to no greenhouse gases during operation, unlike coal, diesel or charcoal burned for fuel.