Question

If the temperature of Earth's atmosphere were to rise a little bit, what would happen?

a) There would be less rain, so the atmosphere would absorb less carbon dioxide, causing the temperature to fall.
b) More carbon dioxide would dissolve into the oceans, so the temperature would go back down.
c) Volcanoes would heat up, emit more carbon dioxide, so the temperature would begin a runaway increase.
d ) Plate tectonics would speed up, releasing more heat, leading to more volcanoes and a further increase in the temperature.
e) Carbon dioxide would begin to escape from the atmosphere into space, which would cause the temperature to fall.

Answer 1

A slight rise in Earth's atmospheric temperature would enhance global warming due to increased levels of carbon dioxide, leading to further heat retention and potentially causing sea level rise and altered weather patterns.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the temperature of Earth's atmosphere were to rise a little bit, climate change and global warming would be exacerbated. This warming results from an increase in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂), which traps heat in the atmosphere, retaining more of the Sun's energy. If additional CO₂ is added to the atmosphere, the altitude at which radiation is emitted to space rises due to increased absorption by CO₂. As a consequence, the surface of the Earth warms further to maintain balance between incoming solar energy and outgoing radiation.

Increasing temperatures can lead to melting polar ice caps, raising sea levels, and altering weather patterns, affecting civilizations worldwide. Furthermore, Earth's ability to radiate heat is hindered by CO₂, creating a feedback loop where higher temperatures lead to more water vapor, another greenhouse gas, which further increases temperatures. Geological processes like weathering can remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, balancing temperatures over long timescales. However, human activities are currently adding CO₂ faster than natural processes can remove it, leading to a net increase in greenhouse effect and warming.