...Greenhouse effect From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search A representation of the exchanges of energy between the source (the Sun), the Earth's surface, the Earth's atmosphere, and the ultimate sink outer space. The ability of the atmosphere to capture and recycle energy emitted by the Earth surface is the defining characteristic of the greenhouse effect. Another diagram of the greenhouse effect The greenhouse effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions. Since part of this re-radiation is back towards the surface and the lower atmosphere, it results in an elevation of the average surface temperature above what it would be in the absence of the gases.[1][2] Solar radiation at the frequencies of visible light largely passes through the atmosphere to warm the planetary surface, which then emits this energy at the lower frequencies of infrared thermal radiation. Infrared radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases, which in turn re-radiate much of the energy to the surface and lower atmosphere. The mechanism is named after the effect of solar radiation passing through glass and warming a greenhouse, but the way it retains heat is fundamentally different as a greenhouse works by reducing airflow, isolating the warm air inside the structure so that heat is not lost by convection.[2][3][4] If an ideal thermally conductive blackbody was the...
Words: 1921 - Pages: 8
...Think about a time when your car was parked in the middle of a parking lot, in the middle of the day. The minute you opened the car door, you must have felt currents of hot air blowing past you. The moment you sat down, you might have felt as if your car was burning the heat! This is a small, yet effective example of a process called the GREENHOUSE EFFECT. This effect involves a certain body of matter, be it a car, or a green house in which plants are grown, or the earth itself GRIPPING heat or radiation from another body, in our case – the sun. In case of the car, the glass enables the assimilation of the heat, and traps the heat inside, and does not let it out. Similarly, the earth's atmosphere contains certain gases called GREENHOUSE GASES such as Carbon Dioxide or water vapor or Ozone or Methane, which absorb the radiations we receive from the sun, and trap the heat from it inside. In other words, our atmosphere, which contains the green house gases acts like a blanket; it absorbs heat from the sun, and prevents the heat inside from going away from the earth's surface. The more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the more the heat gets trapped, the more the temperature rises. This phenomenon of increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans is called GLOBAL WARMING. So, what if the temperature rises? Due to global warming, there are serious, profound consequences that occur. These include: 1. Increased evaporation of water, which...
Words: 864 - Pages: 4
...The Greenhouse Effect Introduction Greenhouse effect refers to an atmospheric process by which short wavelenghts of the visible light from the sun pass through the atmosphere where they are absorbed or trapped. However, part of light emitted from the sun in form of long wave is re-radiated from heated objects on the earth’s surface in to the atmosphere. Presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere does not allow the radiations to pass through. The greenhouse gas molecules are more complex than any air molecule and their structure has high heat absorption capacity. The heat radiated back to the earth’s surface to modulate its temperature. According to Parsons, this process is essential in order to support life. if this does not occur, the temperatures on the earth surface would be below freezing point and plant or animal life would be supported. However, human activities in the past centuries have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which in turn have increased the average temperature on the earth’s surface. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. According to a report released by IPCC in 2007, there was a significant increase in production of greenhouse gases between the 19th and 20th century. However, in the context of this paper greenhouse effect will be deciphered via different notions. Discussion Increase in Effect Increase in population has led to increased transportation and manufacturing. This...
Words: 1839 - Pages: 8
...Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse effect? What does greenhouse effect really means? According to Turnbull (2006), greenhouse effect is “the warming of earth’s atmosphere as a result of harmful gases in the air” (p. 325). It could be devastating if we let it to continue developing in our earth. We can reduce its existence even at our very own home. The 3R’s of environment, save electricity and also reducing the emission of harmful gases can reduce the level of greenhouse effect from our own home. Firstly, saving electricity at home is one of the ways to decline the level of greenhouse effect. According to Chong (2007), approximately 72% of electricity contributes to greenhouse gases. Just by turning off lights or fan when they are not in use by any people can reduce the temperature hence, reducing the level of greenhouse effect. Plus, installing solar panels on the rooftop of our houses to heat up our home and water can be a very effective way to save the use of electricity. Generally, use less electricity at home will bring down the percentage of this effect to happen. Secondly, reduce the emission of harmful gases can help shrink greenhouse effect. To illustrate, households should exclude the option of disposing their rubbish through opening burning in the lawn because burning of rubbish will emit harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide. In addition, refrigerants in air-conditioners and refrigerator also help the growth of greenhouse effect as it releases...
Words: 419 - Pages: 2
...Introduction Global warming is a phenomenon that occurs when the earth’s atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space. Initially the sunlight transmitted was meant to pass through the atmosphere, warm the Earth’s surface, and otherwise pass freely into space. But most of the outgoing heat, however, is absorbed by the accumulated greenhouse molecules in the atmosphere and is re-emitted in all directions, ultimately leading to the warming of the planet. Over the past 50 years, the average global temperature has increased at an unsettling speed. Some human activities like mining and the burning of fossil fuels, emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the air. As we burn and mine more fossil fuels, greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere...
Words: 1787 - Pages: 8
...The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming: Definition, Causes, and potential effects to humans, Plants, animal communities and natural resources. Discuss with illustrations. INTRODUCTION There's a delicate balancing act occurring every day all across the Earth, involving radiation the planet receives from space and the radiation that's reflected back out to space. Enormous amounts of radiation, primarily from the sun strikes the Earth's atmosphere in the form of visible light, ultraviolet, infrared and other types of radiation that are invisible to the human eye. About 30 percent of the radiation striking Earth's atmosphere is immediately reflected back out to space by clouds, ice, snow, sand and other reflective surfaces, according to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). The remaining 70 percent of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the oceans, the land and the atmosphere. As they heat up, the oceans, land and atmosphere release heat in the form of infrared thermal radiation, which passes out of the atmosphere and into space. It is this equilibrium of incoming and outgoing radiation that makes the Earth habitable. Without this balance, the greenhouse effect sets in. Definition Greenhouse Effect: The warming of the atmosphere due to the increased amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides and methane. These gases form a blanket over the Earth, trapping the energy or heat from the sun and preventing it from leaving the atmosphere...
Words: 2333 - Pages: 10
...Greenhouse Effect and its Implication on Global Warming Greenhouse effect refers to an atmospheric process by which short wavelenghts of the visible light from the sun pass through the atmosphere where they are absorbed or trapped. However, part of light emitted from the sun in form of longwave is re-radiated from heated obects on the earth’s surface in to the atmosphere. Presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere does not allow the radiations to pass through. The greenhouse gas moelecules are more complex than any air molecule and their structure has high heat absorption capacity. The heat radiated back to the earth’s surface to modulate its temperature (Davis, 9). According to Parsons (23), this process is essential in order to support life. if this does not occur, the temperatues on the earth surcface would be below frezing point and plant or animal life would be supported. however, human activtities in the past centuries have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which inturn have increased the average temperature on the earth’s surface. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, caborndixoide, nitrous oxide and methane. Acording to a report released by IPCC in 2007, there was a significant increase in production of greenhouse gases between the 19th and 20th century (Davis, 11). Increase in population has led to increased transportation and manufacturing. This implies rise in the combustion of fossil fuels including oil, gas and coal...
Words: 1256 - Pages: 6
...production, deforestation, land use and etc., are playing a significant role that produce a lot of greenhouse gases and intensify climate change as living in modern society. Oil, gas and coal are the main fossil fuels and energy sources in our daily life. It produces a large amount of greenhouse gases. The greenhouses gases could increase the surface temperatures and delay cooling in the atmosphere (Giddens, 2009). Hence, this phenomenon is called as greenhouse effect and which causes the climate change and global warming. Climate change is an issue which cannot be abandoned to the next generation (Francis, 2015). Therefore,...
Words: 844 - Pages: 4
...The greenhouse effect is an natural way to response the sun's rays ( stråling) shining. The atmosphere keeps lots of warmth around the earth, and therefore the greenhouse effect is still growing, because we're leaking too much CO2 aka carbon diioxid. out in the atmosphere. Whats to worry about? As we continue to pollute the atmosphere ith more and mroe chemicals we are keeping too much of the sun's warmth in the atmosphere. The global temperature is growing. In the north we cant feel the greenhouse effect, but if we're looking at fx Africa its very clear that the greenhouse effect is affecting us. When the global temperatur is growing, the ice poles is melting, which means that some country will experience that their countries will be under water one day. The greeenhouse effect is basically a layer of all kind of gasses, but mainly Carbondioxid. When the sun sents rays towards the earth, the earth will have a hard time to sent it back to the atmosphere since the layer of the gasses is preventing the rays from leaving the earths atmosphere. The atmosphere keeps lots of warmth around the earth, and therefore the greenhouse effect is still growing, because we're leaking too much CO2 aka carbon diioxid. What could we do about? We could forexeample take the bika instead of the car, busses, trains and so on. We could also remember to turn off the lights, after were going out from a room. We could try to recycle more than we do. We could stop taking a very...
Words: 263 - Pages: 2
...consequences of the enhanced greenhouse effect and global climate change Figure [ 1 ] - The greenhouse effect diagram, http://www.ozcoasts.gov.au/indicators/images/oze_fs_009_02.jpg Figure [ 1 ] - The greenhouse effect diagram, http://www.ozcoasts.gov.au/indicators/images/oze_fs_009_02.jpg “The unprecedented increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, together with other human influences on climate over the past century and those anticipated for the future, constitute a real basis for concern” (American Geophysical Union, 2014). The Earth's surface temperature has to be just right for humans, not too cold and not too hot. Thanks to the natural greenhouse effect, which has kept the Earth warm. It’s a phenomenon where the earth's atmosphere traps solar radiation, caused by the presence in the atmosphere of gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass through but absorb heat radiated back from the earth's surface. As there are naturally occurring greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that help keep the Earth warm, added amounts of these gases leads to extra heat being trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases (carbon dioxide, methane etc.) are being added by human activities and are enhancing the greenhouse effect as shown in figure 1. The global climate change is causing many environmental consequences and will cause more. There are five gases that contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect. These five gases are water...
Words: 2561 - Pages: 11
...Marissa N. Mahigab Joana May B. Apolonio BEE 3-2 Mamasapano probe will prove Pnoy didn’t do anything to save SAF men, says Enrile Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday vowed that he will prove that President Benigno Aquino III not only was “actively and directly” involved in the planning and preparation of the Mamasapano operation, but that the chief executive did not do anything to save the 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force who were killed during the incident. The veteran senator made the pronouncement on Monday with little more than a week before the resumption of the Senate investigation into the incident, which Enrile pushed the Committee on Public order to reopen. “So that there will be no more questions whether we should reopen the probe or not, I would like to make manifestation that I have evidence that the President, Benigno Aquino III actively and directly involved himself in the planning and preparation of Oplan Exodus,” said Enrile as committee chairman Senator Grace Poe sought clarification on the Senate Rules Committee decision to reopen the probe. Enrile said that on the day of actual preparation, the president was monitoring the operations while going to Zamboanga City. “While the operation is going on the SAF units were being slaughtered, he did not do anything at all to save them. I’m going to prove this with evidence in the hearing, “said Enrile. When sought for comment, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma...
Words: 763 - Pages: 4
...period of human civilization, however, the world has been enjoying a warm, temperate, and relatively stable climate. This stability has allowed human civilizations, along with countless other species of animals and plants, to proliferate and flourish in recent centuries. The release of carbon and other gases from the burning of fossil fuels in the last hundred years however may be causing a dramatic spike in global temperatures. Scientists have been studying this phenomenon since the 1950s, but only recently has a consensus emerged – the earth is getting warmer due to human activities. Global warming is often referred to as the gradual rise of the earths near surface temperature as a result rapid warming brought on by rising levels of greenhouse gases, in the atmosphere. The green house gases - water vapor, carbon dioxide...
Words: 503 - Pages: 3
...Green House Effect The green house effect is the warming up of the atmosphere. This happens due to the fact that there are certain gasses in the atmosphere that allows a certain wavelength of electromagnetic waves to freely pass through, while for the other types of electromagnetic waves, it doesn’t allow free movement. For example, high-energy electromagnetic waves like ultraviolet and gamma radiation get absorbed by the atmosphere. This allows for other radiation with a lower frequency to pass through the atmosphere and heat the Earth. Greenhouse Gases Carbon dioxide () is one of the greenhouse gases. It consists of one carbon atom with an oxygen atom bonded to each side. When its atoms are bonded tightly together, the carbon dioxide molecule can absorb infrared radiation, which happen to be vibrating in the same frequency as the molecule, causing the molecule to vibrate. The phenomena where both the molecule and the infrared radiation vibrate in the same frequency and combine, it’s called resonance. Fortunately, the range of frequency of Infrared radiation is in the region of the frequency of the molecules. Eventually, the vibrating molecule will emit the radiation again, and it will likely be absorbed by yet another greenhouse gas molecule. This absorption-emission-absorption cycle serves to keep the heat near the surface, effectively insulating the surface from the cold of space. Carbon dioxide, water vapor (), methane (), nitrous oxide (), and a few other gases...
Words: 623 - Pages: 3
...Essay Climate change is quite possible the most destructive threat that has ever faced mankind. It has the potential to drown whole nations and port cities with rising sea levels due to thermal expansion and the melting ice caps, entire weather systems will change, disrupting agriculture and causing wide spread poverty and famine. Scarier still is the estimated tipping point, the point of no return, our enhanced greenhouse effect will develop into a runaway greenhouse effect. The same effect which is seen on Venus, a scorching planet with a surface temperature of 462°C and clouds of sulfuric acid, it’s believed there was once vast oceans and there were even speculations of a long gone tropical paradise. Alas, it’s now a hostile environment incapable of sustaining any life or development, and to think this may have been brought about by the same process that threatens us now is terrifying. It’s hard to predict and explain, but it’s clear that our enhancing greenhouse effect is solely due to anthropogenic activity and advancements in technology over the past 3 centuries. The human ability to design and innovate technology is marvelous, the numerous ways in which fossil fuels have been utilized to our benefit, through fuels, plastics and surprisingly almost every item in our day to day lives. It is these life-changing technological discoveries that catalyze the developments of new human eras. Without basic agricultural tools and plows we never could have moved away from subsistence...
Words: 1147 - Pages: 5
...Global Warming: Fact or Fiction By Lorrie Fontanilla Professor John Hargiss BUSN300-1202B-55 April 27, 2012 Introduction: I. Definition of Global Warming A. What is Global Warming The Green House Effect Who is Responsible for Green House Emissions Debates on Global Warming A. Opposing Viewpoints 1. What do Scientists Agree on What do Scientists Disagree on Evidence of Global Warming A. Climate Changes 1. Melting Polarized Caps * 2. Rise in Sea Level * IV. Summary and Conclusion * A. Strategies to Abate Global Warming * 1. Individual Efforts * 2. Energy Conservation and Efficiency * 3. Political Position Global warming: fact or fiction Global warming is one of the most eminent scientific topics of the twenty-first century stimulating the precise configuration of society. Global warming inherently means there is a rise in temperature when the earth heats up. It sounds unpretentious in its term; however, it is an extremely complicated subject. It occurs when greenhouse gases; (carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane) entrap the sun’s warmth and radiance in the earth’s environment which initiates temperature increases. (Global Warming, n.d.) The greenhouse effect is a result from the sunlight’s heat energy that is consumed by the earth and atoms in the earth's environment. This energy is customarily emitted in the direction towards space. However; due, to domestic living changes, the gases...
Words: 1337 - Pages: 6
