Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect - 1974 Words

The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming Recently, global warming has moved to a serious scientific issue. Because sunlight is constantly falling on the earth, the law of physics say that the planet has to radiate the same amount of energy back into space. Infrared radiation is sent out by the earth through the atmosphere, where molecules (carbon dioxide) hold outgoing radiation for a while, warming the surface.1 The molecules are kind of like glass in a greenhouse which is why this process of warming is called the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect has been operating since the beginning of time. Without the effect, the surface of the earth would be -20 degrees Celsius, oceans would have frozen, and there would be no†¦show more content†¦A decreased day and night temperature and night warming may happen when an increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases takes place. Emissions are a major problem contributing to the greenhouse effect. These gases are called volatil e organic compounds (VOC#8217;s) and consist mostly of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. These gases react in sunlight with nitrogen oxides to form photochemical smog. A lab experiment was done to simulate typical outside conditions. Stems of fescue grass and white clover were cut and tested for VOC content and researchers found that emissions of certain VOC#8217;s spiked immediately after cutting, while others continued at a high rate for the next two days. Uncut grass also gives off VOC#8217;s and cutting grass makes it worse. In a city like Los Angeles, mowing accounts for 10% of the VOC#8217;s in the atmosphere, say researchers. President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore have different stands on the global warming issue. Al Gore is pushing for a radical stand and wants to cut back on emissions to ten percent below the levels of 1990 and this would require a 20% cut in the fossil fuel usage. Al Gore even called for a White House conference with weather forecas ters saying that the U.S. should fund more abortions in order to cut down on the number of people populating our world. Gore believes that Americans will be thankful in the long run for him saving the world from ecologicalShow MoreRelatedGlobal Warming And The Greenhouse Effect1588 Words   |  7 PagesGlobal warming is the increase in the average surface temperature of the Earth due to the effect of the buildup of greenhouse gases, due to deforestation and burning fossil fuels which causes the heat to be trapped that would otherwise escape from the earth. To understand global warming, you need to understand the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is actually essential for life on earth to exist as it allows the planet to remain warm enough to sustain life. For example if we consider forRead MoreThe Greenhouse Effect And Global Warming1723 Words   |  7 PagesThe greenhouse effect and global warming are issues that are talked about by geologists all the time. The greenhouse effect is a natural process that keeps the earth at temperatures that are livable. Energy from the sun warms the earth when its heat rays are absorbed by greenhouse gasses and become trapped in the atmosphere. Some of the most common greenhouse gasses are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. If there were no greenhouse gasses, very few rays would be absorbed and the earthRead MoreThe Effects Of Global Warming On The Greenhouse Effect1917 Words   |  8 PagesThe Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect is the result of the interaction of the atmosphere of a world and the radiation emitted from the Sun and planet. This process essentially makes a world warmer that it would be. As we will learn in this chapter there are many factors that determine the strength of a world’s greenhouse effect including a world’s size, the world’s distance from the Sun and the strength of a world’s magnetic field. Before you can learn about the factors that influence the greenhouseRead MoreGlobal Warming and the Greenhouse Effect Essays793 Words   |  4 Pages What is the greenhouse effect? It is the behavior of solar radiation when it interacts with gasses in the Earths atmosphere. The Sun gives off a wide spectrum of energy which we classify according to its wavelength. Among the types of energy given off by the sun are ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared (IR) wavelengths. UV is short wavelength high-energy radiation, visible is mid-wavelength, mid-energy radiation, and IR is long wavelength low-energy radiation. Read MoreEssay on Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect 1500 Words   |  6 Pages Global Warming is due to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring process that aids in heating the Earths surface and atmosphere. It results from the fact that certain atmospheric gases, such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane, are able to change the energy balance of the planet by being able to absorb longwave radiation from the Earths surface. Without the greenhouse effect, life on this planet would probably not exist as the averageRead MoreEssay on Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect1912 Words   |  8 PagesGlobal Warming and the Greenhouse Effect   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Recently, global warming has moved to a serious scientific issue. Because sunlight is constantly falling on the earth, the law of physics say that the planet has to radiate the same amount of energy back into space. Infrared radiation is sent out by the earth through the atmosphere, where molecules (carbon dioxide) hold outgoing radiation for a while, warming the surface.1 The molecules are kind of like glass in a greenhouse which is why this processRead More Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect Essay591 Words   |  3 PagesGlobal Warming and the Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect, in environmental science, is a popular term for the effect that certain variable constituents of the Earths lower atmosphere have on surface temperatures. It has been known since 1896 that Earth has been warmed by a blanket of gasses (This is called the greenhouse effect.). The gases--water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4)--keep ground temperatures at a global average of about 15 degrees C (60 degrees F). WithoutRead MoreEssay on The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming1837 Words   |  8 PagesThe greenhouse effect is an important phenomenon and is currently holding national and international attention. Why is there an interest in the effect? Why are people willing to invest so much time and effort investigating its consequences and willing to suffer by them? What is the basis for believing the effect is real? The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring process, which is initiated by the sun. It is a result of the fact that there are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere which containRead MoreThe Effects Of Greenhouse Gases On Global Warming Essay3424 Words   |  14 Pages Diagram A is a visual representation of the greenhouse effect and the role greenhouse gases play in this greenhouse effect. How do greenhouse gases in the atmosphere affect global warming? Many of the greenhouse gases in the troposphere are naturally produced, which is why the Earth is able to stay at a constant average global temperature. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas in which is affecting global warming, not because of naturally produced carbon dioxide, but mainly because of manRead MoreGlobal Warming And The Human Expansion Of The Greenhouse Effect998 Words   |  4 Pagesrevolves around global warming and the human expansion of the greenhouse effect, as pictured below. Ordinarily, the sun’s radiation passes through the atmosphere, is absorbed by the Earth and then is re-radiated back into space as infra-red waves. However, due to human activities, the concentrations of greenhouse gases increase meaning that more of the heat radiating away from the Earth’s surface is trapped in the atmosphere and is re-emitted back to the Earth’s surface, thus further warming the planet