Most of the people out there are bound to get confused if asked how green house effect is related to global warming, as we have always looked at it as a separate environmental issue. Even though greenhouse effect is not harmful for the planet, 'enhanced greenhouse effect' definitely is. Sadly though, this and other such important facts about this phenomenon have been eluding the brightest minds of the world for quite some time now.
Greenhouse Effect: Facts and Myths
Basically, the thermal radiations coming from the Sun are reflected back to the space after they come in contact with the surface of the Earth. When these radiations are reflected back, some atmospheric gases restrict their reflection and trap them within the atmosphere of the Earth. The entire process of these thermal radiations entering the Earth's atmosphere and getting trapped in it is known as the greenhouse effect, and the atmospheric gases which play a crucial role in trapping these radiations are known as the greenhouse gases. Some of the most abundant greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane etc. Other than these gases, the greenhouse gases list also includes gases such as nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), sulfur hexafluoride etc. Overall, the greenhouse effect is a perfectly normal phenomenon which is necessary for the existence of life on the Earth, and its absence can leave the planet absolutely cold and unsuitable for human habitation.
Relationship Between the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
While greenhouse effect is necessary for the existence of life on our planet, too much of the same can spell disaster for us. This 'too much' is what we call the 'enhanced greenhouse effect'. When we say that the conditions on Earth are conducive for presence of life, the average temperature prevailing on the planet has a crucial role to play. Any rise or fall in this temperature can result in some serious implications on the planet. While the absence of greenhouse effect can result in fall in the average temperature, too much of the same can result in its rise - both of which are threats for the presence of life on the planet.
Simply put, global warming is an abnormal increase in the average near surface temperature of the planet. This 'abnormal rise' can be attributed to several underlying factors, including pollution and deforestation, all of which amount to enhanced greenhouse effect. When the Sun's thermal radiations are trapped by greenhouse gases within the Earth's atmosphere, they add to the near surface temperature of the planet and cause it to rise. More recently, the concentration of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased by a significant amount. This increase in concentration of greenhouse gases, in turn, results in increase in the amount of heat trapped within the atmosphere, and eventually contributes to global warming.
The greenhouse effect causes can be broadly categorized into natural gases as well as anthropogenic causes. While natural causes of greenhouse effect include presence of water vapor, release of methane from wetlands, volcanic eruptions etc., the anthropogenic causes include human induced environmental pollution, deforestation, cattle rearing, and other activities. The difference between the two, however, is that the natural causes help in maintaining the balance of greenhouse gases, and anthropogenic causes disrupt this balance and cause global warming.
After going through all these intricate details about the two concepts you realize that there is a lot more to know about the cause-effect relationship they share, with the 'greenhouse effect' acting as a cause and the phenomenon of 'global warming' acting as its effect. All being said, the onus is on us to ensure that we refrain from contributing to the greenhouse effect, either directly or indirectly, and do our bit to tackle global warming, and its repercussions on our planet.
Greenhouse Effect: Facts and Myths
Basically, the thermal radiations coming from the Sun are reflected back to the space after they come in contact with the surface of the Earth. When these radiations are reflected back, some atmospheric gases restrict their reflection and trap them within the atmosphere of the Earth. The entire process of these thermal radiations entering the Earth's atmosphere and getting trapped in it is known as the greenhouse effect, and the atmospheric gases which play a crucial role in trapping these radiations are known as the greenhouse gases. Some of the most abundant greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane etc. Other than these gases, the greenhouse gases list also includes gases such as nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), sulfur hexafluoride etc. Overall, the greenhouse effect is a perfectly normal phenomenon which is necessary for the existence of life on the Earth, and its absence can leave the planet absolutely cold and unsuitable for human habitation.
Relationship Between the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
While greenhouse effect is necessary for the existence of life on our planet, too much of the same can spell disaster for us. This 'too much' is what we call the 'enhanced greenhouse effect'. When we say that the conditions on Earth are conducive for presence of life, the average temperature prevailing on the planet has a crucial role to play. Any rise or fall in this temperature can result in some serious implications on the planet. While the absence of greenhouse effect can result in fall in the average temperature, too much of the same can result in its rise - both of which are threats for the presence of life on the planet.
Simply put, global warming is an abnormal increase in the average near surface temperature of the planet. This 'abnormal rise' can be attributed to several underlying factors, including pollution and deforestation, all of which amount to enhanced greenhouse effect. When the Sun's thermal radiations are trapped by greenhouse gases within the Earth's atmosphere, they add to the near surface temperature of the planet and cause it to rise. More recently, the concentration of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased by a significant amount. This increase in concentration of greenhouse gases, in turn, results in increase in the amount of heat trapped within the atmosphere, and eventually contributes to global warming.
The greenhouse effect causes can be broadly categorized into natural gases as well as anthropogenic causes. While natural causes of greenhouse effect include presence of water vapor, release of methane from wetlands, volcanic eruptions etc., the anthropogenic causes include human induced environmental pollution, deforestation, cattle rearing, and other activities. The difference between the two, however, is that the natural causes help in maintaining the balance of greenhouse gases, and anthropogenic causes disrupt this balance and cause global warming.
After going through all these intricate details about the two concepts you realize that there is a lot more to know about the cause-effect relationship they share, with the 'greenhouse effect' acting as a cause and the phenomenon of 'global warming' acting as its effect. All being said, the onus is on us to ensure that we refrain from contributing to the greenhouse effect, either directly or indirectly, and do our bit to tackle global warming, and its repercussions on our planet.
