What is the Greenhouse Effect?
I think we've all heard of the greenhouse effect, but many of us don't realize its importance or even know what it is.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process whereby the earth is warmed through the sun's radiation, making the temperature suitable for life on earth. It is necessary for our survival. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, without the greenhouse effect, the earth would be 30 degrees cooler (-18 instead of the current 15 degree average), making it a harsh environment for living organisms.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process whereby the earth is warmed through the sun's radiation, making the temperature suitable for life on earth. It is necessary for our survival. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, without the greenhouse effect, the earth would be 30 degrees cooler (-18 instead of the current 15 degree average), making it a harsh environment for living organisms.
So how does it work?
31% of the sun's incoming radiation is reflected directly back into space by the earth's atmosphere, and 20% of it remains, being absorbed by the atmosphere. The rest is converted to heat on the surface of the earth, warming it and the air.
The process of the greenhouse effect is quite simple and straightforward.
The largest contributor to the greenhouse gas effect is water vapour. Other greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide and methane.
Sources:
Paltridge, G. (2013, December 1). Enhanced greenhouse gas effect- a hot international topic. Retrieved from http://www.sciencearchive.org.au/nova/016/016key.html
Climate change and the enhanced greenhouse gas effect. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.ie/media/Lesson 2 Climate Change - The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect.pdf
31% of the sun's incoming radiation is reflected directly back into space by the earth's atmosphere, and 20% of it remains, being absorbed by the atmosphere. The rest is converted to heat on the surface of the earth, warming it and the air.
The process of the greenhouse effect is quite simple and straightforward.
- The sun emits energy toward earth's atmosphere
- Gases absorb heat and radiate some of it back to earth's atmosphere, making the surface temperature warmer
- The earth radiates energy from the sun (as infrared or longwave radiation) back to space
- As it travels back through the atmosphere, gases (like carbon dioxide and water vapour) absorb most of the energy
- The energy is remitted in random directions
- As a result, some energy is trapped, warming the atmosphere and the earth
- Total energy in the atmosphere increases, raising the temperature
- Equilibrium temperature is reached when the loss of heat energy at the top of the atmosphere equals incoming energy from the sun
The largest contributor to the greenhouse gas effect is water vapour. Other greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide and methane.
Sources:
Paltridge, G. (2013, December 1). Enhanced greenhouse gas effect- a hot international topic. Retrieved from http://www.sciencearchive.org.au/nova/016/016key.html
Climate change and the enhanced greenhouse gas effect. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.ie/media/Lesson 2 Climate Change - The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect.pdf
What Happens in the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?
It is true that in order for our planet to sustain life, we need the greenhouse effect. However, ever since the start of the industrial revolution two years ago our earth began to change rapidly. The earth is becoming increasingly warm, which may seem like a good thing at first, but really it will severely impact our ecosystem.
With the enhanced greenhouse gas effect, the equilibrium of temperatures is disrupted, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. There is a lot more carbon dioxide being trapped in the atmosphere than there is being released back into space, resulting in climate change. Human activities like deforestation and industrial practices are releasing a lot more carbon dioxide than before. In fact, CO2 produces 60% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with most of it coming from factories, industries and transportation.
We as Canadians are making a tremendous carbon footprint by ourselves, even though we make up less than one half of one percent of the world's population. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, we are the world's eighth largest producer of greenhouse gases, producing over 702 million tonnes per year. We only have 35 million inhabitants, and yet we use more energy than Africa's entire population of 760 million. Canada uses 5% of its annual GDP (75 billion dollars) on energy every year. That is equivalent to $2200 per person. It is clear we are spending way too much on energy and using it extensively when we don't need to.
Sources:
Canada's emissions. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/climate-change/science/canada-climate-change/canadas-emissions/
Climate change and the enhanced greenhouse gas effect. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.ie/media/Lesson 2 Climate Change - The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect.pdf
With the enhanced greenhouse gas effect, the equilibrium of temperatures is disrupted, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. There is a lot more carbon dioxide being trapped in the atmosphere than there is being released back into space, resulting in climate change. Human activities like deforestation and industrial practices are releasing a lot more carbon dioxide than before. In fact, CO2 produces 60% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with most of it coming from factories, industries and transportation.
We as Canadians are making a tremendous carbon footprint by ourselves, even though we make up less than one half of one percent of the world's population. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, we are the world's eighth largest producer of greenhouse gases, producing over 702 million tonnes per year. We only have 35 million inhabitants, and yet we use more energy than Africa's entire population of 760 million. Canada uses 5% of its annual GDP (75 billion dollars) on energy every year. That is equivalent to $2200 per person. It is clear we are spending way too much on energy and using it extensively when we don't need to.
Sources:
Canada's emissions. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/climate-change/science/canada-climate-change/canadas-emissions/
Climate change and the enhanced greenhouse gas effect. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.ie/media/Lesson 2 Climate Change - The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect.pdf