GREENHOUSE EFFECT--A THREAT TO HUMANITY

GREENHOUSE EFFECT 

Greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from the sun is absorbed by the greenhouse gasses and not reflected back into space. This insulates the surface of the earth and prevents it from freezing. 

GREENHOUSE GASSES 

Greenhouse gasses are the gasses that absorb the infrared radiations and create a greenhouse effect. 

FOR EXAMPLE 

● Carbon Dioxide, Chlorofluorocarbons, Methane ( CH4) and nitrous oxide ( N2O ). 

GREENHOUSE 

A Greenhouse is a house made of glass that can be used to grow plants. The sun’s radiations warm the plants and the air inside the greenhouse. The heat trapped inside can’t escape out and warms the greenhouse which is essential for the growth of the plants. 

Same is the case in the earth’s atmosphere. During the day, the sun heats up the earth’s atmosphere. At night, when the earth cools down, the heat is radiated back into the atmosphere. During this process, the heat is absorbed by the greenhouse gasses in the earth’s atmosphere. This is what makes the surface of

earth warmer that makes the survival of living beings on earth possible. However, due to increased levels of greenhouse gasses, the temperature of the earth has increased considerably. This has led to several drastic effects. 

CONTRIBUTIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASSES 

The major contributions to greenhouse gasses are factories, automobiles, deforestation etc. The increased number of factories and automobiles increased the amount of these gasses in the atmosphere. The greenhouse gasses never let the radiation escape from the earth and increase the surface temperature of the earth. This then leads to global warming. 

CAUSES OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT 

The major causes of greenhouse effect are: 

1. BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS 

Fossil fuels are an important part of our lives. They are widely used in transportation and to produce electricity. Burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. With the increase in population, the utilization of fossil fuels has increased. This has led to an increase in the release of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. 

2. DEFORESTATION 

Plants and trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Due to cutting of the trees, there is a considerable increase in the greenhouse gasses which increases the earth’s atmosphere. 

3. FARMING 

Farming in particular releases significant amounts of methane and nitrous oxide, two powerful greenhouse gasses. Methane is produced by livestock during digestion due to enteric fermentation and is released via belches. It can also escape from stored manure and organic waste in landfills. Nitrous oxide used in fertilizers is one of the contributors to the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere.

4. INDUSTRIAL WASTE AND LANDFILLS 

The industries and factories produce harmful gasses which are released in the atmosphere. Landfills also release carbon dioxide and methane that adds to the greenhouse gasses. 

EFFECTS OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT The main effects of increased greenhouse gasses are: 

1. GLOBAL WARMING 

It is the phenomenon of a gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. The main cause for this environmental issue is the increased volume of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane released by the burning of fossil fuels, emissions from vehicles, industries and other human activities. 

2. DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER 

Ozone layer protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is found in the upper regions of the stratosphere. 

The depletion of the ozone layer results in the entry of the harmful UV rays to the earth surface that might lead to skin cancer and can also change the climate drastically. The major cause of this phenomenon is the accumulation of natural greenhouse gasses including chlorofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide and methane etc. 

3. SMOG AND AIR POLLUTION 

Smog is formed by the combination of smoke and fog. It can be caused both by natural means and man made activities. In general, smog is formed by the accumulation of more greenhouse gasses including nitrogen and sulfur oxides. The major contributions to the formation of smog are the automobile and industrial emissions, agricultural fires, natural forest fires and the reaction of these chemicals among themselves. 

4. ACIDIFICATION OF WATER BODIES 

Increase in the total amount of greenhouse gasses in the air has turned most of the world’s water bodies acidic. The greenhouse gasses mix with the rain water and fall as acid rain. This leads to the acidification of water bodies. Also, the rain water carries the contaminants along with it and falls into the river, streams and lakes thereby causing their acidification.

WAYS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASSES 

● Use less electricity 

● Generate electricity without emissions 

● Shrink the footprint of food 

● Travel without making greenhouse gasses 

● Reduce emissions from industry 

● Take carbon dioxide out of the air