Carbon dioxide functions as a greenhouse gas because it absorbs a specific form of energy emitted from the Earth’s surface into the atmosphere. What type of energy is this, and what occurs when it interacts with carbon dioxide molecules?
- Athermal; carbon dioxide molecules increase the Earth’s energy loss to space
- Bthermal; carbon dioxide molecules absorb the energy
- Clight; carbon dioxide molecules increase the Earth’s energy loss to space
- Dlight; carbon dioxide molecules absorb the energy