The Greenhouse Effect

Contents:

Introduction
Presentation on Greenhouse Effect

More Information:

The Process
The Problem
References

Introduction

The greenhouse effect is a term given to the change in the climate of a planet or a moon due to the presence of gases in its atmosphere. These gases are known as greenhouse gases. It is the absorption and retention of the sun’s radiation in the Earth’s atmosphere resulting in an increase in the temperature of the Earth’s surface.

What human activities add to the greenhouse effect

Presentation on Greenhouse Effect

The Process

The Earth receives almost all its energy from the sun in the form of light. The atmosphere does not absorb much of this light as it is transparent to light. Half of the sun’s energy reaches the Earth where it is absorbed as heat by various surfaces. The rest of the energy is radiated back by the Earth. The Earth radiates energy back in the infrared range due to its temperature. Greenhouse gases are not transparent to infrared radiation and so they eventually absorb the infrared light. The greenhouse gases also radiate energy in the infrared range due to its high temperature, but do so in all directions. Some of this energy is radiated down towards the earth and this increases the temperature on earth.

This warms the lower atmosphere and surface and this enables life. It is predicted that without greenhouse gases, Earth’s average temperature would drop from 14 °C (57 °F) to −18 °C (−0.4 °F). Infrared light is not seen by the human eye.

The Problem

Although the greenhouse effect is essential to the survival of life on earth, too strong a greenhouse effect has adverse effects.  The greenhouse effect on earth is currently too strong and the Earth is heating up too quickly. There are too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at the moment. The world is getting hotter and hotter as the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases.

Increasing amounts of greenhouse gases, especially Carbon Dioxide are being emitted into the air primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

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References

Wikipedia contributors (2009) Greenhouse Effect [online] (13 March 2009)
Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greenhouse_effect&oldid=276917675
Accessed  [14 March 2009]

Paul Nicklen, 2008, Arctic Circle Ice Melting [electronic image]
Available at:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Environment/Images/Global_Warming/arctic-circle-ice-1083129-xl.jpg
Accessed 27 February 2009