Application Exercise 4

Q1. Understanding Earth’s energy balance is essential to understanding the issue of global warming. For example, the solar energy striking Earth’s surface averages 168 watts per square meter (W/m2), but the energy leaving Earth’s surface averages 390 W/m2.Why isn’t Earth cooling rapidly?

Answer: Earth does not cool rapidly because the atmosphere retains most of the emitted heat energy, even though the amount of energy emitted is more than double the amount of heat received. 

 

Q2. Decide and explain whether the statement is correct or incorrect. 

Answer: The statement is incorrect. The winter experienced in the cartoon should raise their concern about global warming because the amount of snow is not normal as there is too much snow. This shows erratic climate change which should be a concern as a result of global warming.

 

Q3. One of the first radar devices developed during World War II used microwave radiation of a specific wave range that triggers the rotation of water molecules. Why was the design not successful?

Answer: Absorption of microwave radiation by water molecules in the atmosphere interferes with the detection of intended objects.

 

Q4. Now that you have studied air quality (unit 1), stratospheric ozone depletion (unit 2), and global warming (unit 3), which do you believe poses the most serious problem for you in the short run (pick one and explain)? In the long run (pick one and explain)?

Answer: In the short run, air quality poses the most serious problem because it causes immediate harmful effects on human’s respiratory system.

In the long run, global warming poses the most serious problem because it leads to climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion which are irreversible, affecting the entire human population as well as ecosystem instead of a particular region.