Greenhouse Gases
We have all heard about global warming and the effects it is having on the earth. People talk about the consequences of our actions and how the planet is affected by our choices and the way we choose to live our lives. There are so many reasons for global warming and so many solutions, only if we act on it. If we fail to recognize the dangers, there is no turning back the clock. We have heard people discuss greenhouse gases and greenhouse effects. We will discuss this in this article to give you a better understanding of what it means and what we can do to help.
How Does the Greenhouse Effect and the Greenhouse gases lead to Global Warming?
During the entire process of greenhouse effect, the concentration of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere determines the quantity of energy being added to the atmosphere. However, man through his activities on earth causes the concentration of the greenhouse gases to increase. This means that more energy will be added to the atmosphere. When more energy is added to the atmosphere, the possible outcome is that the earth’s surface temperature will increase quickly. The increase in the earth’s surface temperature is what is known as global warming.
From the above you can understand why greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases are associated to the global warming. In fact they are regarded as the causes of global warming. In a sense, they are the cause of global warming but in another sense they are not. It is man that is causing global warming through his activities.
How do the Activities of Man lead to the Higher Concentration of Greenhouse Gases?
This is a question that should be properly addressed. Many people do not know that they are contributing to the problem of global warming facing the earth today. Though, it seems that it will be difficult for man to avoid these activities because some of them make life easier and enjoyable on earth but they rate can be reduced with caution.
Owing to the industrial revolution, more fossil fuel is being burnt on daily basis. This increase the emission of more of the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Some of the agricultural methods applied by some farmers lead to the emission of more methane and nitrous oxide to the atmosphere.
Today, owing to the economic importance of timbers more trees are felled on daily basis. Deforestation increase the amount carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere on daily basis. This is because trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. If a large portion of the world’s forests are cleared as trees are being felled, more carbon dioxide will be released to the atmosphere.
Other human factors which can lead either directly or indirectly to the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases include overpopulation, automotives and others.