Facts about the Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse effect is often confused with global warming. It is believed that greenhouse effect causes global warming; however, the truth couldn't be far from this. To understand facts about the greenhouse effect, it is important to understand what it is, and how it affects life on Earth.

What is the Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect warms the Earth naturally. To warm the Earth, it relies on the Sun's energy. When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's surface, around 49% of it is absorbed and the rest is reflected back to space. This absorbed energy warms the Earth's surface, which in turn radiates heat energy back towards the space. While this warm energy is traveling towards space, it is partially trapped by greenhouse gases. The trapped energy is then released in all directions, warming the earth's surface and atmosphere. This process of warming the Earth is known as the greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse Effect Gases
There are many factors that influence the greenhouse effect namely, the percentage of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, transparency of the greenhouse cover, and the type of Earth's surface it reflects upon and gets absorbed. The greenhouse gases are ozone, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor. These gases are found abundantly in the Earth's atmosphere. The greenhouse gases affect the temperature of the Earth, by warming it naturally and making it habitable for life to exist. Without the greenhouse gases, the Earth's surface temperature would average around 33 degrees C cooler than usual. It could almost freeze the Earth! Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide greenhouse gases consists of one atom with an oxygen atom bonded to its each side, which kind of vibrates while absorbing heat. This allows the greenhouse gases molecule to absorb heat (infrared radiation). The vibration of the molecule causes the heat emissions, which are most likely to be absorbed by another greenhouse gas molecule. This absorption and emission cycle helps to keep the heat close to Earth's surface.

Factors that Impact the Greenhouse Effect
Besides the above-stated factors that affect the greenhouse effect, the sunlight's first encounter with the type of Earth surface, also impacts the greenhouse effect. The percentage of the heat reflected and radiated back by different Earth surfaces like the grasslands, forests, glaciers, deserts, cities including the industrial areas, and clouds is defined as albedo, by atmospheric scientists. The levels of heat radiation range depends upon the type of Earth's surface, it has reflected back from into the atmosphere. Cloud cover also plays a vital role by reducing both; the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface and the amount of radiation energy emitted back into the space.

Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is important to keep the Earth warm enough to sustain life. However, if it gets too warm, it could endanger all life on the planet Earth. Human activities has increased the emission of gases like nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and created holes in the ozone layer, accentuating the greenhouse effect globally, thus causing global warming. A rapid growth in population has increased the number of things like housing, clothes, cars, ACs, etc. resulting in vast stretches of deforestation and more industries. A large number of new cars roll out on the road every year, contributing to air pollution caused by burning petrol and diesel. Fossil fuels like petroleum and oil, wood and gas is being consumed heavily for industries and domestic purposes. Industries release a large number of pollutants not only in the atmosphere, but also in rivers and oceans. Oil spills from tankers are primary reason for polluting the oceans and killing aquatic life. Rain forests sustain much more than wildlife, they work as atmosphere cleaners. Large scale deforestation done to provide amenities to people and land for industries, has caused enormous amounts of toxic gases to be released in the atmosphere.

One of the most important facts about the greenhouse effect, is that as of today, there is an enormous change in the global temperature; it is getting warmer each day. An important source of water are the melting glaciers, which due to drastic change in temperature have resulted in the water levels rising around the globe. Many islands are in fear of being drowned forever due to the effects of global warming. Disappearing rain forests cannot be replaced with a new tree transplantation. It has become extremely necessary to create an awareness about the global warming facts amongst the peoples. If we do not check the levels of toxic emissions, released by callous, human nature, we will choke planet Earth!