Section outline

  • A greenhouse structure featuring glass panels for trapping heat and promoting plant growth.
     

    How does the atmosphere resemble a greenhouse?
    ::大气层像温室吗?

    Farmers use greenhouses to extend the growing season. A greenhouse traps  heat . Days that are too cool for a growing plant can be made to be just right. Similar to a greenhouse,  greenhouse gases  in the  atmosphere  keep Earth warm.
    ::农民利用温室来延长生长季节。温室捕捉热。 对于生长的植物来说,太酷的日子可以变成对的。与温室温室气体一样,大气中的温室气体可以让地球变暖。

    The Greenhouse Effect
    ::温室气体效应

    When sunlight heats Earth’s surface, some of the heat radiates back into the atmosphere. Some of this heat is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere. This is the  greenhouse effect , and it helps to keep Earth warm. The greenhouse effect allows Earth to have temperatures that can support life.
    ::当阳光照射地球表面时,有些热能会回升到大气中。 有些热能被大气中的气体吸收。 这是温室效应,有助于保持地球的温暖。 温室效应使地球的温度能够维持生命。

    Gases that absorb heat in the atmosphere are called  greenhouse gases . They include carbon dioxide and  water vapor . Human actions have increased the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere ( Figure   ). The added gases have caused a greater greenhouse effect. How do you think this affects Earth’s  ? 
    ::在大气中吸收热气的气体被称为温室气体,包括二氧化碳和水蒸气。人类行动增加了大气中的温室气体(图 ) 。增加的气体产生了更大的温室效应。 你认为这如何影响地球?

    Comparison of natural and human-enhanced greenhouse effects, illustrating heat retention and gas differences.
     
    Human actions have increased the natural greenhouse effect.

    Like a blanket on a sleeping person, greenhouse gases act as  insulation  for the  planet . The warming of the atmosphere is because of  insulation  by greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are the component of the atmosphere that moderate Earth’s temperatures.
    ::大气变暖是因为温室气体的隔热。 温室气体是温和地球温度的温和大气的组成部分。

    Greenhouse Gases
    ::温室气体

    Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), water vapor (H 2 O), methane (CH 4 ),  ozone  (O 3 ), nitrous  oxides  (NO and N 2 O), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).. All are a normal part of the atmosphere except CFCs. The table below shows how each greenhouse gas naturally enters the atmosphere ( Table   ).
    ::温室气体包括二氧化碳(CO2)、水蒸气(H2O)、甲烷(CH4)、臭氧(O3)、一氧化二氮(NO和N2O)和氯氟化碳(CFCs),都是大气的正常部分,但氟氯化碳除外。

    Greenhouse Gas Source
    Carbon dioxide Respiration , volcanic eruptions, decomposition of plant material; burning of  fossil fuels
    Methane Decomposition of plant material under some conditions, biochemical reactions in stomachs
    Nitrous oxide Produced by bacteria
    Ozone Atmospheric processes
    Chlorofluorocarbons Not naturally occurring; made by humans

    Different greenhouse gases have different abilities to trap heat. For example, one methane  molecule  traps 23 times as much heat as one CO 2  molecule. One CFC-12 molecule (a type of CFC) traps 10,600 times as much heat as one CO 2 . Still, CO 2  is a very important greenhouse gas, because it is much more abundant in the atmosphere.
    ::不同的温室气体捕捉热的能力不同。 比如,一种甲烷分子捕捉热量是二氧化碳分子的23倍。 一种CFC-12分子(一种氟氯化碳)捕捉热量是二氧化碳的10 600倍。 然而,CO2是一种非常重要的温室气体,因为它在大气中丰富得多。

     

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), water vapor (H 2 O), methane (CH 4 ), ozone (O 3 ), nitrous oxides (NO and N 2 O), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
      ::温室气体包括二氧化碳(CO2)、水蒸气(H2O)、甲烷(CH4)、臭氧(O3)、一氧化二氮(NO和N2O)和氟氯化碳(CFCs)。
    • Greenhouse gases trap heat in the troposphere. Some greenhouse gases can trap more heat than others.
      ::对流层中的温室气体捕捉热量,有些温室气体的捕捉热量比其他温室气体的更强。
    • Levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing due to human activities.
      ::由于人类活动,大气中的温室气体水平正在上升。

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. What is insulation? What effect does insulation have on global temperature?
      ::绝缘是什么?绝缘对全球温度有什么影响?
    1. What is the greenhouse effect?
      ::温室效应是什么?
    1. How does Earth's atmosphere resemble a greenhouse?
      ::地球的大气层像温室吗?