Greenhouse Effect Free Essays

Greenhouse Effect is a term for the role the atmosphere plays in helping warm the earth’s surface. The atmosphere is largely transparent to incoming short-wave ( or ultrviolet) soalr radiation, which is absorbed by earth’s surface. The earth receives energy from the sun, which warms the earth’s surface. We will write a custom essay sample on Greenhouse Effect or any similar topic only for you Order Now As this energy passes through the atmosphere, a certain percentage gets scattered. Some part of this energy is reflected back into the atmosphere from the land and ocean surface. The rest (70%) actually remains behind to heat the earth. n order to establisha balance, therefore, the earth must radiate some energy back into the atmosphere. As the earth is much cooler than the sun, it does not emit energy as visisble llight. It emitsthrought is frared or thermal radiation. However, certain gases in the atmosphere. Without this blanket effect, the earth would be around 30oC colder than it normally is. These gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide along with water vapour, comprise less than one per cent of the atmosphere. They are called ‘greenhouse gases† as the working principle is same as that which occurs in a greenhouse. Just as the galss of the greenhouse prevent the radiation of excess energy, this ‘gas blanket’ absorbs some of the energy emitted by the earth and keeps temperaature level intact. This effect was first recognized by a France scientist, Jean-Baptiste Fourier, who pionted out the similarly in what happen in the atmosphere and in a green house. Hence he terms the greenhouse effect. This gas blanket has been in place ever since the creation of the earth. Since the industrial revolution human activities have been releasing more and more of these greenhouse gases into atmosphere. This leads to the blanket becaming thicker and upsets gses are called ‘sources’ and those that remove them are known as ‘sink’. A balance between ‘source’ and ‘sink’ maintains the level of these greenhouse gases. Humankind upsets this balance when new source that interfere with the natural gas. When we destroy forest, the carbon stored in the treeescapes as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Increasing agricultural activities, changes in land use patterns, and other sources lead to rising level of methane and nitrous oxide. Industrial processes also release artificial and new greenhouse gases like CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), while automobile exhaust fumes lead to ozone generation. The resulting enchaned greenhouse effect is more commonly referred to as global warming or climate change. Global warming is a result of the increase of thickness of the greenhouse gas layer that is release into the atmosphere through human activity like burning fossil fuel. Increase greenhouse gas concerntration may be resulting in more heat being trap in the atmosphere and increasing global temperature emitted by the cars we drive, the furnaces we use to heat our homes and the industries that produce oil and gas, create electricity and develop products for the world’s marketplace. These greeghouse are completely human caused. They harm stratospheric ozone and so are not as directly responsible for global warming as carbon dioxideis. The question of reducing their presence in the stratosphere is being taken care of in another global convention, the Montreal Protocol. These gases are particularly effective in absorbing long wave radiation from the earth’s surface and preventing heat from escaping. Alhtough the views and opinions of people across the world vary on issues relating to the cause of global warming and its possible impacts, there is a common understanding that is is a cause for major global concern and must be adressed immediately. How to cite Greenhouse Effect, Papers Greenhouse Effect Free Essays Running head: GREEN HOUSE EFFECT Gwinnett College Mr. Seder Research Paper 3/27/13 Air pollution and greenhouse gases are the reason for the planet as it is today; the reason why we see campaigns flooding the media informing us to ‘switch off’, ‘save the planet’ and ‘turn down the heat’ and the reason why the government is trying to develop a successful scheme, such as the carbon tax scheme, to reduce air pollution caused by major industries. Air pollution and greenhouse gases are the two immediate causes of global warming and climate change. We will write a custom essay sample on Greenhouse Effect or any similar topic only for you Order Now Air pollution occurs when chemicals or particulate matter enter the atmosphere. They can cause damage to living organisms on the planet, as well as destruction to the natural and synthetic environment (Energy Environment. net 2008). Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared radiation emitted from the earth. They trap infrared radiation in the form of heat, and hence contribute to global warming. Anthropogenic greenhouse gases are a direct result of air pollution. They are the physical gases emitted that cause air pollution. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases also have an influence on the earth’s atmosphere, though it is not as conspicuous as anthropogenic causes. Together, air pollution and greenhouse gases are intensifying climate change and global warming on a world-wide basis. Until 10 years ago, air pollution was thought to be just an urban or local problem until it was discovered that the pollutants could move across continents and oceans. Air pollution is the fundamental factor that causes greenhouse gases, hence climate change and global warming. Air pollutants are the waste products generated from industrial and other processes. They usually come in gases, though aerosols (particles suspended in air, emitted as or formed by transformations of SO2, and ammonia into sulphates, nitrates and ammonium) are common as well, and just as significant. Aerosols absorb and reflect sunlight, which increases the atmospheric temperature, enhancing greenhouse warming. There are two main classifications of air pollutants; primary, those emitted directly into the atmosphere, and secondary pollutants, those hat form in the air when primary pollutants interact and react. Air pollution is most commonly caused by anthropogenic emission, the most predominant being the burning of fossil fuels. Other major causes of air pollution include chemical processing, agriculture, airborne particles and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) (Irina Ignatova 2008). Air pollution does occur naturally as well, from volcanic eruptions, water vapor, animal resu scitation and lightening fires. Air composition changes regularly, depending on the place, season and weather, as well as for many other reasons (NSW Gov. 2008). The most prevalent air pollutants, as established by the Australian Government, are; carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particles and sulfur dioxide (2. Aust. Gov. 2009. ). Carbon monoxide occurs in the atmosphere naturally at low levels, and is mainly sourced from volcanoes and bushfires. It is emitted from anthropogenic sources by exhaust emissions and some industrial activities(2. Aust. Gov. 2009). Since approximately 1950, anthropogenic sources of CO2 have escalated, as Figure 1 below demonstrates. Lead occurs naturally in the air in tiny amounts, but is added to from lead smelting and other processes. 2. Aust. Gov. 2009). Nitrogen dioxide occurs naturally by lightning and some organic sources, and is added to mainly by the burning of fossil fuels and exhaust emissions (2. Aust. Gov. 2009). Some of the major anthropogenic sources of three major air pollutants, CO, and SO2 are shown in Table 1: Some Important Air Polluting Sectors below. Table 1: Some Important Air Po lluting Sectors (2) Sector Air pollutants emitted Biofuel Combustion Mostly CO; also SO2 and NOx . Industry ump; Refineries Mostly SO2 and NOx; also CO . Power Generation Mostly SO2 and NOx; also CO . Residential and Commercial Sector Mostly SO2 and CO; also NOx . Road, Rail, Air ump; Other Transport Mostly NOx and CO; also SO2 . As can be seen from table 1, the three air pollutants CO, SO2 and NOx are emitted from a range of sources. The sectors listed in the table are some of the worst anthropogenic polluters present. These air pollutants, plus others are also known as greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases (hereafter GHGs) are gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared radiation emitted from the earth. GHGs can have both natural and anthropogenic causes. They ccur naturally in the atmosphere; however, increased anthropogenic GHGs has led to what is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring process where greenhouse gases allow sunlight to pass into the atmosphere, but prevents some of the long wave radiation (heat) from escaping. This process maintains a livable temperature on earth, as without it the average temperature would be -18oC instead of the 15oC presently (Pidwirny, M. 2006). Naturally, the balance of GHGs is maintained in the atmosphere, ensuring the planet doesn’t become too hot or cold. The enhanced greenhouse effect is an increase in the natural greenhouse effect, stimulated by human activity. GHGs are released into the atmosphere at a much faster rate than they would naturally, increasing their concentrations. This leads to an increase in long wave radiation absorption, raising the atmospheric temperature of the planet. This is known as global warming, and has been slowly occurring over a number of decades. The impact of GHGs has been rising since the industrial revolution, due to the enormous increase in toxic emissions. The major GHGs are Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (NH4), Nitrogen oxide (NO) and Fluorocarbons. Figure 2 shows the proportions of the main U. S Anthropogenic GHG emissions. This graph clearly shows that CO2 is the most prevalent GHG emitted. Figure 2: U. S. Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Gas, 2001. (Million Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent) . What this graph fails to show, however, is the prevalence of another, very common GHG; water vapor. Approximately 60% of all greenhouse gas is water vapor. Much of the water vapor is retained from natural sources, so it is often unspoken of when detailing climate change. This is generally justified by climate change commonly being referred to in an anthropogenic sense. The four major GHGs, CO2, NH4, NO and Fluorocarbons have increased considerably in amount from the pre-industrial (pre 1750) levels to today, as table 2, below, shows. Gas Preindustrial Level 2008 Level . Carbon Dioxide 280 parts per million 385 ppm . Methane 700 parts per billion 1782 ppb . Nitrous Oxide 270 parts per billion 321 ppb . Fluorocarbons 0 parts per trillion 533 pp. Table 2: Comparative levels of Greenhouse Gases preindustrial (1750) and 2008 . Adapted from http://www. eea. europa. eu/data-and-maps/indicators/atmospheric-greenhouse-gas-concentrations/atmospheric-greenhouse-gas-concentrations-assessment-2 The various levels can be seen to have increased considerably since 1750, the most markedly being Fluorocarbons, which were not present in pre-industrial times , and now are at a level of 533 parts per trillion. The GHG that has had the most devastating increase since 1750 is carbon dioxide, increasing from 280 parts per million to 385 ppm. This increase has led to many of the climate issues prevalent in today’s environment. It is these increasing GHG levels that cause the problems of climate change and global warming. Greenhouse gases caused by air pollutants have many adverse effects to the environment and to the health of living organisms living on the planet. The most significant effect is global warming. The average temperature rise worldwide in the last century was 0. 6oC (National Geographic 2004). Global warming is having many current, dramatic effects on the planet. The biggest danger is from sea level rise. Because of the increasing temperatures, the oceans are expanding, causing the sea level to rise, which poses a massive danger to low lying continents and islands. The oceans have risen 15-20cm already. Figure 3 shows the changes in sea level due to global warming from 1880 to 1980. Greenhouse gases also cause climate change, which is long-term changes in the climate, including average rainfall and temperature. The climate worldwide at the moment is leading to increasingly extreme climate conditions, such as extended droughts, torrential rain leading to extensive flooding and short, intense storms. Many of these severities of nature have already been witnessed, with droughts in Western Australia, floods in the Eastern States, Tornadoes in America and extreme monsoons in Asian countries. So it can be concluded that, as long as air pollution keeps increasing the prevalence of greenhouse gases, climate change and global warming will also increase. The evidence clearly provided in this essay strongly supports the argument that greenhouse gases caused by air pollution are the main cause of anthropogenic climate change. The tables and graphs demonstrate just how greenhouse gases contribute to climate change. As is evident, climate change is an ever growing problem globally. Due to the increase in anthropogenic air pollution, greenhouse gases have amplified also, as shown by table 2. Figure one shows how carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased exponentially, mirrored by anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide. The various examples described clearly support the argument that greenhouse gases caused by air pollution are the major anthropogenic causes of climate change. Work citied Ganesh, P. (2011). Global warming/green house effect. Indian Journal Of Science Technology, 4(3), 219-222. ttp://www. grida. no/publications/vg/climate/page/3072. aspx Indian Journal of Science Technology. Mar2011, Vol. 4 Issue 3, p204-206. 3p. 4 Charts, 1 Graph Kanai, S. , Moghaieb, R. E. , El-Shemy, H. A. , Panigrahi, R. R. , Mohapatra, P. K. , Ito, J. J. , †¦ Fujita, K. (2011). Potassium deficiency affects water status and photosynthetic rate of the vegetative sink in green house tomato prior t o its effects on source activity. Plant Science, 180(2), 368-374. doi:10. 1016/j. plantsci. 2010. 10. 011 Turkish Journal of Agriculture Forestry. 2004, Vol. 28 Issue 3, p203-209. p. 2 Charts, 1 Map. Indian Journal of Science Technology. Mar2011, Vol. 4 Issue 3, p230-235. 6p. . Renewable Sustainable Energy Reviews. Aug2011, Vol. 15 Issue 6, p3301-3318. 18p. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Jun2007, Vol. 55 Issue 6, p832-839. 8p. 1 Diagram, 4 Charts. International Journal of Food Science Technology. Aug2006, Vol. 41 Issue 7, p813-832. 20p. 5 Charts. Renewable Sustainable Energy Reviews. Dec2011, Vol. 15 Issue 9, p4416-4423. 8p. .Document Type:Article Allelopathy Journal. 2010, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p441-451. 11p. 3 Charts, 2 Graphs How to cite Greenhouse Effect, Essay examples