Hello, could someone help me with this question please?
Explain how burning wood or coal to heat your house may contribute to global warming by altering the energy balance at the Earth's surface?
Thank you
Where does the smoke go?
You have to be having a laugh!
Have you studied Book 1 at all!
Consider yourself reported to the OU!
It's because of the smoke. Smoke is a dust, and therefore denser than air, so it can absorb more infra red energy.
Of course! I'd be happy to explain how burning wood or coal to heat your house can contribute to global warming by altering the energy balance at the Earth's surface.
When you burn wood or coal, carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere. This is because wood and coal are both composed mainly of carbon. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which means it has the ability to trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere.
When sunlight reaches the Earth's surface, it warms it up. Some of the heat is then radiated back into space as infrared radiation. However, greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere absorb some of this outgoing radiation and then re-emit it in all directions, including back towards the Earth's surface. This process is often referred to as the greenhouse effect.
By burning wood or coal, additional carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere. This increases the concentration of greenhouse gases and strengthens the greenhouse effect. As a result, more of the heat radiated from the Earth's surface is trapped, leading to what we call global warming.
To better understand and quantify the contribution of burning wood or coal to global warming, scientists use a measure called the "carbon footprint." The carbon footprint measures the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted from a particular activity or source, such as burning wood or coal for heating.
Reducing the carbon footprint associated with heating by burning wood or coal can be achieved by utilizing alternative energy sources that produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Examples include using renewable energy sources like solar or wind power, or utilizing more energy-efficient heating systems like electric heat pumps.
So, to summarize, burning wood or coal releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. This increased trapping of heat leads to global warming. Reducing the carbon footprint from heating can be achieved through alternative energy sources and energy efficiency measures.