Greenhouse Gases Quiz

Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that absorb the wavelengths of radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, resulting in the greenhouse effect. They raise the surface temperature of the Earth by trapping heat.

Water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ozone (O3) are the primary gases responsible for the greenhouse effect on Earth.

Without greenhouse gases, the average temperature of Earth's surface would be about −18 °C (0 °F), rather than the present average of 15 °C (59 °F).

Human activities have increased atmospheric methane concentrations by over 150% and carbon dioxide by over 50% since the Industrial Revolution began around 1750.

Carbon dioxide is causing about three quarters of global warming and can take thousands of years to be fully absorbed by the carbon cycle.

Endemism is the state of being a species found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country, or other defined zone.

The Cape sugarbird is found exclusively in southwestern South Africa and is therefore said to be endemic to that particular part of the world.

The extreme opposite of an endemic species is one with a cosmopolitan distribution, having a global or widespread range.

A rare alternative term for a species that is endemic is 'precinctive', which applies to species that are restricted to a defined geographical area.

Other terms that are sometimes used interchangeably with 'endemic' include autochthonal, autochthonic, and indigenous.