Which of the following statements concerning atmospheric gases or human impacts on the atmosphere is FALSE?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The greenhouse effect traps outgoing infrared radiation and raises Earth’s average surface temperature, a concept first quantified in the 19th century by Fourier, Tyndall, and Arrhenius. However, calling greenhouse warming “the only reason life can exist on Earth” is incorrect.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Greenhouse effect: gases (CO2, H2O, CH4, etc.) absorb Earth’s IR and warm the surface; recognized in the early 1800s.  
- Climate drivers: greenhouse gases are a major climate control, but other planetary factors (solar distance and luminosity, atmospheric composition, liquid water, magnetic field, plate tectonics, and biogeochemical cycles) also determine habitability.  
- Role of water vapor: short atmospheric residence time but acts as a feedback, not the primary forcing.  
- Human influence: industrial-era fossil fuel burning greatly increased atmospheric CO2.  
- Tipping points: nonlinear responses in climate systems can prevent simple reversal by CO2 reduction alone.

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- The statement’s first clause (“recognized nearly two centuries ago”) is true: scientists in the 1820s–1890s established the greenhouse concept.  
- The statement’s second clause (“is the only reason life can exist”) is false because life’s existence depends on multiple conditions beyond greenhouse warming.

3) Intermediate considerations (no numeric calculation required)
- Greenhouse warming is necessary to keep average temperatures above freezing, but without liquid water, a stable atmosphere, magnetic shielding from solar/space radiation, appropriate elemental availability (C, N, O, P), and long-term climatic stability (plate tectonics/carbon cycle), life as we know it would still be impossible.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- The combined clauses make the sentence false: although the greenhouse effect was recognized historically, it is not the sole reason life exists.

5) Why the other options are correct (brief)
- CO2 higher in the Cretaceous but similar high values last occurred in the Pliocene when early hominins existed — true.  
- Humans began massively altering CO2 with the Industrial Revolution — true.  
- Water vapor’s short residence time means it’s a feedback, not the primary forcing — true.  
- Climate tipping points can produce irreversible changes — true.

6) Conclusion
Therefore the false statement is “Greenhouse warming is not a recent concept but was recognized nearly two centuries ago and is the only reason life can exist on Earth,” which matches the provided answer.

Which of the following statements concerning atmospheric gases or human impacts on the atmosphere is FALSE?单项选择题

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