The greenhouse effect

Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Sunlight arrows in, and infrared arrows going up, back down and out to space.

2. 1.

   What is the natural greenhouse effect, by Ari's reading (NASA)?

   • The ozone layer blocks most sunlight from reaching the ground
   • Gases absorb heat from the ground and send some back down
   • Gases store heat for good, so heat stops leaving Earth
   • Clouds reflect sunlight back down so each ray lands twice
3. 2.

   About what is Earth's average surface temperature with the natural greenhouse effect, by Bo's reading (NASA)?

   • About 5,500 °C
   • About 100 °C
   • About 0 °C
   • About 15 °C
4. 3.

   With no atmosphere, how would Earth's surface compare with today, by Kira's reading (NASA)?

   • More than 30 °C colder than today
   • About 1 °C colder than today
   • Warmer, since air blocks sunlight from the ground
   • About the same, since the Sun alone sets the temperature
6. 4.

   Which list names three greenhouse gases, by Luz's reading (NASA)?

   • Oxygen, nitrogen and argon in the air
   • Nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide
   • Helium, neon and oxygen
   • Water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane
7. 5.

   NASA names the atmosphere's most abundant greenhouse gas. Which is it, by Milo's reading?

   Use the picture in question 4.

   • Oxygen
   • Nitrogen
   • Methane
   • Water vapor

8. Use this

   Sunlight arrows in, and infrared arrows going up, back down and out to space.

9. 6.

   Sunlight arrives mostly as visible and near-infrared light. What does Earth's surface give off, by Noah's reading (NASA)?

   • Nothing, since the ground just absorbs light
   • Thermal infrared (heat)
   • Visible light, like the Sun gives off
   • Ultraviolet light, brighter than sunlight
10. 7.

    Why does Earth's surface give off infrared rather than visible light, by Pia's reading (NASA)?

    • Greenhouse gases paint the ground a darker color
    • It is far cooler than the Sun, about 15 °C
    • Its infrared is sunlight reflected off clouds
    • It is hotter than the surface of the Sun

11. Energy flows as a share of incoming sunlight (NASA)

    Flow	Share of incoming sunlight
    Reflected to space	29%
    Absorbed by the atmosphere	23%
    Absorbed by the surface	48%
    Infrared up from the surface	117%
    Infrared back down to the surface	100%
    Infrared from the surface straight to space	12%
    Infrared from the atmosphere to space	59%

12. 8.

    Using the table, what share of incoming sunlight does Earth's surface absorb, by Tala's reading (NASA)?

    • About 23%
    • About 117%
    • About 29%
    • About 48%
13. 9.

    Using the table, how much infrared does the atmosphere send back down to the surface, by Zee's reading (NASA)?

    • About 59% of incoming sunlight
    • About 100% of incoming sunlight
    • About 12% of incoming sunlight
    • About 29% of incoming sunlight
14. 10.

    Using the table, what share of incoming sunlight is reflected and plays no part in warming, by Esme's reading (NASA)?

    • About 48%
    • About 29%
    • About 71%
    • About 100%