Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
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Textbook Question
Chapter 8, Problem 22E
Why are we concerned about the increases in CO2 and other gases that cause the greenhouse effect in Earth’s atmosphere? What steps can we take in the future to reduce the levels of CO2 in our atmosphere? What factors stand in the way of taking the steps you suggest? (You may include technological, economic, and political factors in your answer.)
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CO2 and planetary warming: understanding Earth’s complicated atmosphere Mars has an atmospheric pressure of 6 mbar (compared with Earth atmosphere pressure of 1013 mbar), 96% of which is CO2. The average calculated temperature of Mars is -57°C, whereas the actual average temperature is -55°C so that the amount of warming due to CO2 is only 2°C. On the other hand, the average calculated temperature of Earth, with 0.4 mbar of CO2, is -19°C, whereas the actual average temperature is 15°C so that the amount of warming due to CO2 is 34°C, much greater than that on Mars, which has higher CO2 concentration. Explain how this is possible.
Chapter 8 Solutions
Astronomy
Ch. 8 - What is the thickest interior layer of Earth? The...Ch. 8 - What are Earth’s core and mantle made of? Explain...Ch. 8 - Describe the differences among primitive, igneous,...Ch. 8 - Explain briefly how the following phenomena happen...Ch. 8 - What is the source of Earth’s magnetic field?Ch. 8 - Why is the shape of the magnetosphere not...Ch. 8 - Although he did not present a mechanism, what were...Ch. 8 - List the possible interactions between Earth’s...Ch. 8 - List, in order of decreasing altitude, the...Ch. 8 - In which atmospheric layer are almost all...
Ch. 8 - What is, by far, the most abundant component of...Ch. 8 - In which domain of living things do you find...Ch. 8 - Describe three ways in which the presence of life...Ch. 8 - Briefly describe the greenhouse effect.Ch. 8 - How do impacts by comets and asteroids influence...Ch. 8 - Why are there so many impact craters on our...Ch. 8 - Detail some of the anthropogenic changes to...Ch. 8 - If you wanted to live where the chances of a...Ch. 8 - Which type of object would likely cause more...Ch. 8 - If all life were destroyed on Earth by a large...Ch. 8 - Why is a decrease in Earth’s ozone harmful to...Ch. 8 - Why are we concerned about the increases in CO2...Ch. 8 - Do you think scientists should make plans to...Ch. 8 - Europe and North America are moving apart by about...Ch. 8 - Over the entire Earth, there are 60,000 km of...Ch. 8 - With the information from Exercise 8.25, you can...Ch. 8 - What is the volume of new oceanic basalt added to...Ch. 8 - Suppose a major impact that produces a mass...Ch. 8 - How do the risks of dying from the impact of an...Ch. 8 - What fraction of Earth’s volume is taken up by the...Ch. 8 - Approximately what percentage of Earth’s radius is...Ch. 8 - What is the drift rate of the Pacific plate over...Ch. 8 - What is the percent increase of atmospheric CO2 in...Ch. 8 - Estimate the mass of the object that formed Meteor...
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