The Greenhouse Effect
The Greenhouse Effect is the effect of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trapping heat that is released from the Earth.
The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect is the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere resulting in more heat being trapped and so warming the surface of the Earth.
Greenhouse Gases and The Atmosphere
The Earth’s atmosphere is divided into layers; the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. Each layer has differences in density of gases and temperature.
Many different gases make up the layers of the atmosphere, the majority being nitrogen and oxygen. These gases let rays from the sun reach the surface of the Earth and allow heat reflected off the surface of the Earth into the atmosphere.
Other gases in the atmosphere let heat and light emitted by the sun reach the surface of the Earth, but trap the heat that is reflected by the Earth’s surface. These gases are called Greenhouse Gases and include carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, halons, and carbon tetrachloride.
The Greenhouse Effect is the process of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere forming a blanket around the Earth, trapping heat.
| Greenhouse Gas | Human Sources | Average Time in the Troposphere | Relative Warming Potential Compared to Carbon Dioxide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide | Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, plant burning | 50-120 years | 1 |
| Methane | Rice paddies, cattle, landfills, coal production, natural gas leaks from oil and gas pipelines | 12-18 years | 23 |
| Nitrous oxide | Burning fossil fuels, fertilizers, live-stock waste | 112-120 years | 296 |
| Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) | Air conditioners, refrigerators, plastic foam (the use of CFCs is being phased out) | 11-20 years | 900-8300 |
| Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) | Air conditioners, refrigerators, plastic foam | 9-390 years | 470-2000 |
| Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) | Air conditioners, refrigerators, plastic foam | 15-390 years | 130-12700 |
| Halons | Fire extinguishers | 68 years | 5500 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | Cleaning solvent | 42 years | 1400 |
Human activities that produce Greenhouse Gas Emissions contribute to Global Warming and Climate Change by the release of those gases into the atmosphere. Atmospheric concentrations of existing greenhouse gases are being increased by human activity, and the majority of experts believe that these gases are linked to Global Warming and Climate Change by way of an enhanced greenhouse effect.