What causes the enhanced greenhouse effect?

What causes the enhanced greenhouse effect?

• A. Rising global temperatures due to greenhouse gases being put into the atmosphere because of human activities
• B. Natural cycles of climate variability
• C. Increased solar radiation
• D. Higher ocean albedo

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that the enhanced greenhouse effect happens when human activities raise the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated compounds trap more infrared radiation that would otherwise escape back into space. This extra trapping thickens the "blanket" around the Earth, warming the surface and lower atmosphere beyond natural levels. Natural climate cycles and variations can influence year-to-year or decade-to-decade changes, but the sustained increase in warming associated with the enhanced greenhouse effect comes from the buildup of human-emitted greenhouse gases. Higher ocean albedo would reflect more sunlight and tend to cool the surface, so it’s not the mechanism behind the enhanced greenhouse effect.

The main idea here is that the enhanced greenhouse effect happens when human activities raise the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated compounds trap more infrared radiation that would otherwise escape back into space. This extra trapping thickens the "blanket" around the Earth, warming the surface and lower atmosphere beyond natural levels. Natural climate cycles and variations can influence year-to-year or decade-to-decade changes, but the sustained increase in warming associated with the enhanced greenhouse effect comes from the buildup of human-emitted greenhouse gases. Higher ocean albedo would reflect more sunlight and tend to cool the surface, so it’s not the mechanism behind the enhanced greenhouse effect.