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Grade 12 Science · Earth & Space Science

Climate systems, feedbacks and climate change

See how greenhouse gases, rising CO₂ and ash in the air change how much heat Earth keeps.

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spaceatmospheresunlight inno greenhouse gasesinfrared out−18 °C
All the infrared from the ground escapes to space.
Earth would average about −18 °C.

Assumptions

•
Sunlight passes through the air; the warm ground sends out infrared.
•
CO₂ and water vapor absorb infrared and send some back down.
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