# Explain how greenhouse gases cause the Earth's atmosphere to warm up.

> AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) — 4.9.2 Carbon dioxide and methane as greenhouse gases · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Electromagnetic/solar radiation from the Sun passes through the Earth's atmosphere
2. The Earth absorbs some radiation and re-emits it as infrared radiation
3. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb this infrared radiation
4. This causes the atmosphere to warm up / leads to the greenhouse effect

## Key terms

- [greenhouse gases](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/greenhouse-gases)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-how-greenhouse-gases-cause-the-a4c79ad7) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.