The analogy of a greenhouse
A)is completely unrelated to our Earth-atmosphere system,and should never have been used to describe global warming.
B)describes exactly how the Earth-atmosphere system operates.
C)is a useful,but inaccurate model since atmospheric gases do not trap,but absorb heat.
D)incorrectly describes shortwave energy transmission but perfectly encapsulates how longwave terrestrial radiation is trapped.
E)is antiquated and rarely used anymore to describe our Earth-atmosphere system.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While the greenhouse analogy is a useful model for understanding the greenhouse effect, atmospheric gases do not actually trap heat like glass in a greenhouse. Rather, they absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, which leads to an increase in temperature. Therefore, while the analogy is useful, it is not entirely accurate.

The Analogy of a Greenhouse