Scientists compare two model atmospheres, X and Y, above identical warmed surfaces. The two model atmospheres contain different amounts of greenhouse gases. Each surface emits 24.0 kJ/m² of infrared radiation during a test. A detector above each atmosphere measures only the infrared radiation that passes through the atmosphere without interacting with it.
| Model atmosphere | Infrared radiation emitted by the surface in kJ/m² | Infrared radiation detected above the atmosphere in kJ/m² |
|---|---|---|
| X | 24.0 | 18.0 |
| Y | 24.0 | 12.5 |
Calculate the difference between the infrared radiation emitted and the infrared radiation detected for each model atmosphere.
Use your answers to part (a) to explain why model atmosphere Y is predicted to warm its surface more than model atmosphere X.
73 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 9.2 Carbon dioxide and methane as greenhouse gases, covering 9.2.1 Greenhouse gases, 9.2.2 Human activities which contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases in the, 9.2.3 Global climate change, and 9.2.4 The carbon footprint and its reduction. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.