Greenhouse Effect | A Challenge for the Future of the Earth

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that helps to keep our planet warm. But human activities are causing the greenhouse effect to become stronger, which is leading to global warming. In this blog post, we will explore the causes and effects of global warming, and we will discuss some possible solutions. Stay tuned!

Table of Contents

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon that contributes to the temperature increment of the earth by the radiations coming from the atmosphere, ultimately raising the temperature above the standard expected temperature if this atmosphere is not there.

In other words, the greenhouse effect is the inborn warming of the globe resulting from the entrapping of the heat from the sun by the atmospheric gases that would otherwise escape outer space.

The greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation in the form of heat coming from the sun. Also, they boost the absorption rate of radiations from the sun having a short wavelength, but this puts a feeble impact on the global temperature.

In other words, the greenhouse effect is the inborn warming of the globe resulting from the entrapping of the heat from the sun by the atmospheric gases that would otherwise escape outer space.

⫸The Causes of the greenhouse effect:

◆ Greenhouse Gases:

A greenhouse gas’s role in producing the greenhouse effect depends upon the amount of heat it absorbs. Besides that, the amount of heat it re-radiates and the amount released in the atmosphere also determine the contribution of greenhouse gases in building up the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse gases which contribute to the global greenhouse effect are as follows:

Ozone (O3)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Water vapour (H2O)

Concerning the GWP or global warming potential (the heat quantity these greenhouse gases absorb and re-radiate), methane is twenty-three times, and nitrous oxide is two hundred and ninety-six times more effective than carbon dioxide. Anyhow, the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere is far more than that of nitrous oxide and methane.

◆ Accumulation of Carbon dioxide:

Not every greenhouse gas that is emitted into the atmosphere stays there for an indefinite period. For instance, the amount of carbon dioxide diffused in the oceans’ surface waters and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere remain at an equilibrium position because the water and air mix well on the sea’s surface. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, some proportion of it diffuses to the oceans.

◆ Industrialization:

Following the industrial revolution in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, the release of greenhouse gases has increased many folds. However, the past century has seen a quicker rise.

From 1970 to 2004, the emission of greenhouse gases rose to 70%. Moreover, the release of the most effective greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, increased by 80% in that duration. The current carbon dioxide level in an atmosphere far crosses the natural level seen over the past 650 000 years.

Most of the CO2 that people contribute to emitting in the atmosphere finds its source in burning fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal, and oil. Planes, trains, trucks, and cars all burn these fossil fuels. Also, many electric powerhouses burn fossil fuels.

◆ Deforestation:

Another way to put carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the cutting down forests. People do deforestation for two reasons. Degrading plant material, also trees emit tons of CO2 in the atmosphere. On the contrary, living trees take in carbon dioxide. The gas stays in the atmosphere by decreasing the number of living trees that would have absorbed carbon dioxide.

◆ Animal Husbandry:

Most of the methane in the atmosphere originates in landfills, livestock farming, and the production of fossil fuels, such as natural gas processing and coal mining. Nitrous oxide comes from fossil fuel burning and agricultural technology.

◆ Emission of CFCs:

Fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons also contribute to the greenhouse effect. These greenhouse gases are emitted from refrigerators and aerosol cans.

All of the above-mentioned human activities contribute to the greenhouse effect, capturing and trapping more heat energy than average and ultimately cause global warming.

⫸ Impacts of the greenhouse effect on global warming

Even the minute increment in average atmospheric temperature can cause massive effects. Perhaps the most apparent and considerable effect is that ice caps and glaciers melt more rapidly than expected. The meltwater flows into oceans, causing a rise in sea level and a drop in the level of ocean salt.

◆ Melting of Glaciers and Ice Cap: Glaciers and ice sheets retreat and advance naturally. It doesn’t take the earth to be oven-hot for the melting of the glaciers. As the global temperature has altered, the ice sheets have shrunk and grown, the sea levels have risen and fallen.

Primitive corals present on land in the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Florida indicate that the sea level was about 5 to 6 meters higher some 13,000 years ago than the current level. Northern summers used to be around 3 to 5 degrees Celsius higher than now, during those primitive fossils.

However, the rate at which global warming is rising now is more than ever before. The impacts are yet to be determined.

◆ Rise in Sea Level: Global Sea levels are also rising due to the regular glacial melt. Anyhow, scientists have discovered other ways which cause the melting of glaciers even faster. For instance, the melting of the Bolivian glacier, Chacaltaya has uncovered dark rocks underneath. These rocks absorb radiation from the sun, boosting up the melting action.

◆ Recurrent Flood: Increasing Sea levels could cause flooding in coastal regions, displacing an alarming number of people in Florida, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, etc. Such forced displacement affects the people displaced and the regions where these displaced people flee for temporary shelter.

Millions of people depend upon glacial water to irrigate, drink, and hydroelectric power supply in India, Peru, and Bolivia. A speedy decrease in the glaciers would impact the lives of these people significantly.

◆ Climate Change: Some environmentalists interpret “global warming” as “climate change.” They do so keeping in view the fact that the greenhouse effect impact more than only temperature.

Another impact is the alteration in the precipitation like snow and rain. Resultantly, precipitation patterns might change and appear more extreme with the advancement of the twentieth century, precipitation enhanced in the eastern regions of South and North America, central and northern Asia, and northern Europe. Anyhow, in some parts of southern Asia, the Mediterranean, and Africa, it has diminished.

⫸ The way forward

We should take steps to keep the emission of greenhouse gases in check in order to minimize the greenhouse effect up to a considerable level. In that case, we can protect our environment from the terrible effects of rapidly increasing global warming.

Calculating Carbon Foot Print to estimate annual Green House Gas emission.
Changing our diet to prevent forest loss.
Reducing Green House Gas emission in Industrial and transportation sectors.
Shift to Non-conventional sources of energy to avoid burning fossil fuels.
Controlling the use of air conditioners and refrigerators to reduce CFCs emission.
Daily practice of Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Renew, Recycle.
Using energy-efficient products.
Arranging afforestation programme to increase greenery.
Reducing environmental pollution.
Travelling with green means of transport, like – bicycle etc.

⫸ FAQ:

1. What is the Greenhouse Effect?

The Greenhouse Effect occurs when greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane can come from natural sources like volcanoes, but most come from human activities like burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests.

2. How does the Greenhouse Effect work?

3. What are greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that trap heat. The most common greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Greenhouse gases come from both natural sources like volcanoes and human activities like burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests.

4. What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is the day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere, such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate is the average weather conditions over a long period. Climate change is a long-term shift in average weather conditions.

5. How do we know the Earth is getting warmer?

There are many ways to measure the Earth’s temperature, including ground-based thermometers, weather balloons, and satellites. Scientists use these measurements to create a global temperature record. This record shows that the Earth’s average temperature has risen by about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880.

6. How does climate change affect people?

Climate change affects people in many ways, including changes in weather patterns, sea-level rise, and changes in the availability of food, water, and other resources. Climate change can also lead to more extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods.