Light is actually a form of energy that travels in waves, and we can place these waves on the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared radiation, or simply infrared or IR, is electromagnetic radiation with longer wavelengths than those of visible light, and is therefore invisible. Our eyes can't see radio waves, or microwaves, or infrared rays. Our eyes have only developed to see visible light which is all the colors of the rainbow; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The heat we feel from sunlight, a radiator or a fire is infrared, and the wavelengths are about the size of a pinhead. If we had special glasses that helped us to see infrared light, a person may look like the one above, holding the match. Everything warm shows up red. Everything has some heat and puts out infrared light. Even things that we think of as being very cold, like an ice cube – put out some heat. This is all really interesting, but what does infrared light have to do with the Greenhouse Effect? Water vapor and certain gases in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation, causing what is called the Greenhouse Effect. This infrared radiation comes from materials on the Earth's surface that have been heated by sunlight. The absorption of infrared heats the atmosphere to the common temperatures we feel each day and through the seasons. Remember how we talked in class about how the Sun's rays come to us with lots of energy, penetrating our atmosphere. And the Earth also gives back some of that light energy that has been reflected or used and sends it out to space. If infrared rays are absorbed by water vapor and other gases in the atmosphere, the extra energy doesn't go back out into space. It stays in the atmosphere and acts like a warm blanket around the Earth. That's what all the hoopla is about. Scientists are observing the Earth warming faster than ever between the time they have started measuring the heat of the Earth and now. Many scientists say that humans have caused this warming with all our pollution, and there are other scientists who are saying, "wait, let's wait and see before we blame humans, maybe this is natural?" What is your opinion? Are humans to blame or could it be something natural, for examples, volcanoes erupting, more forest fires?
7 Comments
Luke
3/14/2018 03:37:39 pm
Yes first
Reply
Luke
3/14/2018 03:38:29 pm
Sorry was that not a sentence. well there I typed a sentence
Reply
Ben
3/14/2018 03:40:52 pm
Woohoo I’m first i saw this one YouTubed called man+river he was amazing he scuba dives in rivers looking for phones and if they work he gives it back to the owner also I kinda like Dubel dosing it’s just it takes so long and last time I was there I had to go but I dident get eny candy also miss tayler the fruit snacks are so good never get rid of them pls everyone loves them.
Reply
MaryGrace/Fred
3/14/2018 05:29:11 pm
I liked the today Mrs. Taylor. Today, I lied on bed and big dog decided to jump up with me and landed on my face.
Reply
Sadie
3/14/2018 09:29:25 pm
Good job on the blog!!!
Reply
grace
3/15/2018 06:53:51 am
wow i can't belive i keep forgeting to comment!! i always love your blog mrs taylor!! well i finnally did!! yay!! bye mrs tatlor!!! and hi sadie,luke,ben,and m.g./ marygrace!!!!
Reply
Errol
3/15/2018 07:47:08 am
wow....It is kinda hard keeping up with all of this knowledge.......but the foldable will help.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |