Additional clouds in a warmer world could ____. A) have a net ...

[jessicacav]

Additional clouds in a warmer world could ____.
 A) have a net warming effect
  B) have a net cooling effect
  C) have no warming or cooling effect
  D) either enhance or reduce warming

Question 2

In the discussion of Earth's annual energy balance, we saw that Earth absorbed approximately 51 units of solar energy but emitted 117 units of infrared energy. What prevents Earth from getting colder and colder?

[dajones82]

Answer to Question 1

D

Answer to Question 2

Only a fraction of the emitted energy passes through into space. The majority of the energy is absorbed in the atmosphere mainly by greenhouse gases (primarily water vapor and carbon dioxide) and clouds. Much of this absorbed energy is then radiated back to Earth, producing the atmospheric greenhouse effect and, therefore, preventing the cooling of the Earth.