The Greenhouse Effect And Global Warming

Global Warming is an important ecological issue and has many negative effects upon our environment. However, for all the attention that this issue does not draw, that is how dire it is growing to be. There are many problems that are causing global warming, and if they are not corrected, or at least prevented from here on out, there are going to be some severe complications in the near future. Greenhouse holes in the ozone layer and the decay of the atmosphere are just a few of the problems that need to be, at the very least, understood by the general community.

Global Warming is caused by the Greenhouse effect. There are 4 steps in the Greenhouse effect process. First, sunlight radiates from the sun, through space, to Earth’s atmosphere. Second, sunlight enters the atmosphere and hits Earth. Some of it turns into heat energy in the form of infrared light. The heat gets absorbed by surrounding air and land, which in turn makes it warm. Third, greenhouse gases trap infrared rays that are remitted into the atmosphere. Finally, the gas then absorbs the light and is remitted back to the Earth’s surface and warms it even more. Left on it's own this natural process keeps our planet warm enough for habitation, but with the increases in temperature, caused by modern industry, our current way of life could become threatened.

Of all the gases in the atmosphere only oxygen, ozone, water vapor and carbon dioxide are significant absorbers of radiation. They absorb strongly in some wavelengths and hardly at all in others. Oxygen and ozone are almost transparent to radiation in the visible and infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum; they absorb almost all of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun in wavelengths below 0.3Ð'µm. These "radiatively active" gases are relatively transparent to incoming short wave radiation, but are relatively dense to outgoing long wave radiation. These gases within the lower levels of the atmosphere trap the end radiation, which would otherwise escape to space. The subsequent reradiation of some of the energy back to the surface maintains surface temperatures higher than they would be if the gases were absent. There is concern that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane may enhance the greenhouse effect and cause global warming. Carbon dioxide is an absorber of the Earth’s infrared radiation which has led to a concern over the possible warming of the atmosphere caused by excessive amounts of carbon dioxide coming from burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and the deforestation of trees.

Radiative equilibrium temperature of the Earth should be at 255 K and this mean radiative temperature of 255 K is at times called planetary temperature and/or effective temperature of the Earth. Averaged over time it is calculated as 288 K, about 33 K higher than this temperature. The difference in this is because of the Greenhouse Effect.