When the “the Greenhouse Effect” is mentioned, most people would probably assume that global warming forms “a hole” in the ozone layer making the biosphere a hotter place. It is true that Global warming is caused by the ozone layer slowly depleting and making Earth’s conditions warmer, but the Greenhouse Effect is mainly caused by a layer of gases under the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases, known as the Greenhouse Gases are made up of many gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Unlike what most people think, greenhouse gases are not harmful to the Earth. Just like a greenhouse for plants in the winter, the greenhouse gases are meant to trap in the heat of solar radiation inside the earth’s atmosphere by absorbing and emitting radiation.
In the atmosphere, the greenhouse gases are made up of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and CFCs. Chlorofluorocarbon is a compound that contains carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. Many CFCs have been used widely as refrigerants, propellants, and solvents. All of these are man-made pollutants that can harm the atmosphere. Although replacement compounds for CFCs have also been evaluated for their Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), the greenhouse gases are still becoming strong and stronger by each year which gives them more potential to harm the environment.
The Essay on Greenhouse Effect Earth Atmosphere Heat
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT The greenhouse effect: retention of heat in the Earth's atmosphere due to the presence of greenhouse gases. In this essay, I will tell you how the greenhouse effect works and the importance it has in our atmosphere and everyday life. The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon ...
Water vapor is the gas phase of water that occurs between the condensation periods of the water cycle and is produced from evaporation. With increase in temperatures due to global warming, water vapor levels could rise. Scientific research leaves the effect of an increase in water vapor or cloudiness unclear, but does have the potential to contribute to the warming of the climate.
carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have gone up by approximately 35 percent since the 1900s. Although it is in the atmosphere the gas is not largely present. A useful metaphor for the effects of CO2 is, “just as a sheet of paper will block more light than an entire pool of clear water, so the trace of CO2 altered the balance of heat radiation through the entire atmosphere”.
The presence of ozone is very important the Earth’s atmosphere. Ozone works almost as a filter and protects the ground levels of earth from harmful UV rays. With every bit of ozone that is depleted, twice the amount of harmful UV rays hit the surface of the Earth. These harmful rays will make the Earth’s environment much warmer and could cause disruption of growth cycles and food chains.
Methane is also classified as a greenhouse gas with a very large potential to make global warming a lot worse. Methane in the atmosphere is oxidized and eventually converts in to carbon dioxide and water, then taking on the greenhouse effects of carbon dioxide.
The sun is known for being the base of all energy in all ecosystems. It provides the energy, heat, and light that is essential to support life. In the greenhouse effect, the sun gives off solar and ultraviolet radiation to the Earth. The atmosphere absorbs ultraviolet and solar radiation and sends it out to space, protecting the inhabitants of the planet. The solar radiation that isn’t sent off to space reaches the Earth’s surface and is absorbed. The Radiation is then converted into heat energy (Infrared radiation) that is then sent back into the atmosphere. As the Infrared radiation passes through the greenhouse gas molecules in the atmosphere, it is absorbed and then re-emitted back into the Earth. This re-emitted radiation once again heats the Earth’s surface thus causing warmth in the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Term Paper on Solar System Earth Planet Atmosphere
... finding water, which might mean that life exists on the planet. Atmosphere Mars probably developed its atmosphere by spewing gases from its interior, as Earth ... of about 96 percent carbon dioxide. Greenhouse effect Sunlight entering Venus's atmosphere is converted to heat radiation and is prevented from escaping by ...
The greenhouse gases in the right amounts are not harmful to the Earth in any way. For centuries, they have been protecting us from harmful radiation and help keep Earth at a constant temperature. People seem to be the reason that the greenhouse gases are increasing and causing environmental changes. It all started from the industrial era in the 1750s which included major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport to the world. These changes called for the use of steam, coal and many chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) which started to pollute and rise up in the air thus strengthening the “infrared radiation shield” of greenhouse gases. Still Billions of cars, trucks, smokers, polluters, and factories are proceeding to give off pollutants adding on to this “shield”
Global warming will have many effects on the Earth in the near future. The sea levels in the North and South will begin to rise and radiation itself will raise temperatures to the point where the Earth will no longer be able to support human life. According to scientific research done by www.livescience.com, by the year 2100, “A combination of global warming and other factors will push many ecosystems to the limit, forcing them to exceed their natural ability to adapt to climate change. A quarter of all species of plants and land animals—more than a million total—could be driven to extinction.” Many other harmful effects include increased carbon dioxide levels and lowered pH of the oceans around the world. Not only do scientific facts support that great climate changes will occur, but also that we, the human race, may not be around to see them.
Bibliography
http://www.livescience.com/environment/070419_earth_timeline.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorofluorocarbons
http://www.ciesin.org/TG/OZ/cfcozn.html
http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/greenhouse.htm
http://www.aip.org/history/climate/co2.htm
