A Major Threat to our Atmosphere and Environment The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

What is the Greenhouse Effect? a naturally occurring process that aids in heating the Earth's surface and atmosphere Without the greenhouse effect life on this planet would probably not exist as the average temperature of the Earth would be a chilly -18° Celsius, rather than the present 15° Celsius.

How it works… Insolation brings short wave radiation to our Earth.

Some of that energy is reflected, some is absorbed. The Earth emits that energy as LONG wave radiation

What are Greenhouse Gases? The two major greenhouse gases are water vapor and carbon dioxide. Other greenhouse gases include methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), and nitrous oxide.

So if the Greenhouse Effect keeps us alive, what is the big deal?

Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been an increased amount of carbon dioxide and other gases entering the atmosphere.

The major sources of this gas includes fossil fuel combustion for industry, transportation, space heating, electricity generation and cooking Carbon Dioxide

Since the Industrial Revolution, methane concentrations have increased by 140%!!! The main sources of methane are rice cultivation and grazing domestic animals Methane!

Nitrous Oxide Its concentration in the atmosphere is increasing at a rate of 0.2 – 0.3% per year Most of the nitrous oxide comes from deforestation

All of those gases, and others, trap long wave radiation in our atmosphere This has resulted in a rise in our average temperature on Earth of about 0.6 o C or 1 o F in the past 100 years.

And has resulted in the melting of Polar ice caps

Are there solutions?