Green house effect
Contents
Greenhouse effect
Defination
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. When the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases.
Components of Greenhouse gases
- Water vapour
- Carbon dioxide
- Methane
- Nitrous oxide
- Ozone
- Artificial chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Process of the Greenhouse gases
Step 1: Solar radiation reaches the Earth's atmosphere - some of this is reflected back into space.
Step 2: The rest of the sun's energy is absorbed by the land and the oceans, heating the Earth.
Step 3: Heat radiates from Earth towards space.
Step 4: Some of this heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth warm enough to sustain life.
Step 5: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and land clearing are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
Step 6: This is trapping extra heat, and causing the Earth's temperature to rise.
Effects of Green house
- Increase in level of Carbon dioxide.
- Increase in level of Methane.
- Increse in level of Nitrous oxide.
- Increase in level of CFCS.
Impacts of Increasing Green house gases
- Change in climate.
- Change in Ocean water level.
- Change in agricultural crop pattern.
- Hot summer.
- Change in rainfall pattern.
- Drought.
- Melting Ice.
- Warmer oceans.
National Level Efforts to control Green house gases
- Plant more trees.
- Reduce man made waste.
- Use-solar, Hydropower, Wind energy.
- Use CFL bulb.
- Aware society about the environment.
- Use power carefully.
International level efforts to control Green house gases
- International conference at Rio Brazil on 3rd June to 15th June 1993.
- Quito protocol in 1997.
