The Greenhouse Effect 2021- Terrifying picture

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

• The Greenhouse Effect is a natural process, which eventually warms Earth’s surface. Sun’s energy reaches the Earth and then some amount gets reflected back to space and rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases.

• Greenhouse gases like Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, and some artificial chemical gases such as Chlorofluorocarbon.
• The absorbed energy is the reason for heat in the atmosphere. It warms Earth’s surface and now it is warming the surface and atmosphere at a rapid pace.
• Global warming is the consequence of the Greenhouse effect.

But do you think now it is only natural?

What are the causes of the Greenhouse Effect?

• Now it is all about human activities. It is not natural anymore. Our development is increasing carbon footprints in the atmosphere. Years ago we were in the safest atmosphere but now developing science and inventions have increased our problems too.
• Climate change is the major problem now we’re facing.
• Extreme weather conditions are discernable.
• Glaciers are melting at a record rate now.
• Sea level is increasing and it is scary for coastal lands. 
• Most important, we need a specific atmosphere for life.

Increasing Carbon dioxide

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) and few other greenhouse gases are out of control now. It is a threat to life on Earth.
• The atmospheric level of CO2 is at the highest level ever recorded. This is all human activities that are causing harm to the environment.
• In the 19th century, Joseph Fourier gave a fact that Earth needs an atmosphere otherwise it would be nothing but a snowball.
• Then Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius linked the atmosphere with Caron dioxide and also stated that CO2 is responsible for rising temperature.
• And then James E. Hansen confirmed that The greenhouse effect has been detected and is changing our climate.

Major Greenhouse gases

Have you heard about the planet, Venus?

• Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system. Its atmosphere is filled with toxic carbon dioxide and this gas is the main reason for the planet’s hot atmosphere.
• Imagine the effects of CO2. Venus has crushing air pressure at its surface, more than 90 times that of Earth, and no water left on its surface. 

How to reduce the Greenhouse effect?

• Reduce, Reuse and Recycle– Try to use products that can be recycled and reused. Also, reduce the usage of packaging materials.
• Try to avoid the use of Air Conditioning– Air conditioners are the main source of Chlorofluorocarbon. To reduce the carbon footprints we need to reduce the usage of such products.
• Use CFL instead of regular light bulbs– CFL saves two-third more energy than regular bulbs and 70% less heat. So using CFL is a wiser option.
• Drive smartly and when required– Less driving means fewer emissions and it will reduce Carbon dioxide amount too.
• Reduce use of Hot water– It will help to maintain the temperature of Earth.
• Plant Trees– Trees absorb Carbon dioxide and provide Oxygen. A single tree absorbs approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime. So plant more trees and save our planet.
• Please encourage others to conserve energy– Save energy and also educate and encourage people to do the same.
• Eat a plant-based diet– Vegan or vegetarian diet can help to reduce carbon footprints.
• Buy energy-efficient products for the home– Nowadays home appliances have energy efficiency segments. Choose them wisely.

Is there any comparison between Earth and Venus?

• Approximately 2 billion years ago, in the early history of Venus, it may have had a shallow liquid-water ocean and habitable surface.
• Venus’s climate change is a threatening sign to us because it was due to the greenhouse effect.
• Many of the same tools we use to model climate change on Earth can be adapted to study climate change on other planets too and hence we’re sure about ancient and current Venus.
• Research shows Venus formed out of ingredients similar to Earth’s. Venus originally may have had an ocean.
• However, Venus is closer to Sun than the Earth and receives far more sunlight. As a result, the planet’s early water ocean may have evaporated, water vapor molecules were broken apart by ultraviolet radiation, and hydrogen escaped to space. With no water left on the surface, carbon dioxide build-up in the atmosphere, leading to a so-called greenhouse effect that created present conditions.
• Also, the ancient Venus with an Earth-like atmosphere could have had the same rotation rate.
• Scientists claim that ancient Venus had dry land, especially in the tropics. This type of surface appears ideal for making a planet habitable.
• But Venus’s slow spin exposed its dayside to the sun for almost two months at a time, which ultimately increase the temperature and warms the surface.

 

• This graph shows the drastic increase in temperature in recent years.

Conclusion

• The Greenhouse effect is a process of absorbing heat and energy from the atmosphere.
• It used to be a natural process earlier but now humans are more responsible for the disastrous effects.
• Researches show that 97 percent of damage is created by humans only.
• Global warming is an aspect of climate change. It is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases.
• An atmosphere is required for a habitable planet. Without the greenhouse gases, Earth’s temperature would be -18 degrees centigrade. The concentration of these gases fluctuates naturally.
• But now it is not fluctuating naturally but increasing rapidly for the sake of development.
• The burning of coal, natural gas, and oil for electricity and heat is the largest single source of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Increasing temperature is responsible for melting ice sheets and glaciers is causing global sea levels to rise, which is a threat to millions of people around the world who live in coastal regions.
• We are left with only one option to save our atmosphere and that is reducing the emissions by using energy-efficient appliances.