Environmental concerns have increased the rates of global warming due to the greenhouse effect. The normal temperature of the earth has seen a high shift due to the absorption of solar energy. The greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere absorb this heat energy and disrupt the regulation of heat throughout the atmosphere. As a result, the temperature rises, resulting in global warming. Some of the greenhouse gases are methane, carbon dioxide, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, etc.
What Are The Effects of Global Warming?
Global warming causes some of the most hazardous effects on the human, animal and plant population. Some of the most devastating global warming effects are as follows.
The Climate Change
It is one of the greatest effects of global warming.
Melting of Icebergs and Glaciers
The rise in temperature has resulted in the melting of solid bodies like icebergs and glaciers. This also results in the rise of floods in different states.
Rise In Drought Conditions
Countries like Africa have suffered from major drought seasons. This is because of the drying of the water bodies and the absence of necessary conditions for crop growth.
The Rise in The Sea Levels
Due to the melting of icebergs and glaciers, floods have become quick and frequent in different nations.
Rise In The Number of Wildfires
Recent years have witnessed some of the most devastating wildfires of all times. This is because of the frequent rise of temperature in the environment.
Change In Seasonal Durations
It is observed that the duration of the season has changed greatly. In some years, winters arrive early whereas summers are late. Moreover, rains fail to appear in the allotted seasons.
Disruption In Food Chains
The food chains have witnessed massive changes. This is because migration seasons of birds are affected due to the change in seasons. The whole food chain has seen a massive drift in recent years.
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
Greenhouse effect is the key reason for environmental concerns like climate change. This could be understood by analysing the mechanism employed inside a greenhouse. A greenhouse is a structure made completely out of glass. It houses several plants which require a high range of temperature to thrive. The solar energy absorbed through this greenhouse ensures that the temperature inside the structure is relatively higher than that of outside. The mechanism here is that the solar energy absorbed is either not reflected at all or is reflected in small amounts. This ensures that the temperature remains high for the required growth of plant species.
However, the greenhouse effect has been hindering the environmental conditions. The solar energy absorbed by the atmosphere is not reflected and is not regulated throughout the circumference.
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse effect is carried out throughout the environment due to the presence of certain harmful gases. These gases are called greenhouse gases. They either exist naturally in the environment or are produced due to the unethical industrial and day to day activities.
Methane is a commonly found greenhouse gas. It is released in the environment during the production of minerals, coals, oils, etc. it is also released during the decaying process of waste material in the landfills. Methane holds the power to create global warming potential in the environment for almost 100 years.
Carbon dioxide is found abundantly in the atmosphere. It is exposed to the surrounding during the burning of trees or waste. Unethical practices like deforestation degrade the quality of soil and in additionally adds carbon dioxide to the air.
Certain fluorinated gases also exist in the environment. Hydrofluorocarbon, perfluorocarbon, etc. form the family of fluorinated gases. These are released in the atmosphere due to the industrial and commercial activities practised in day to day life. Household consumption of commercial products increases the rate of the release of gas.
Nitrous oxide is another harmful greenhouse gas. It holds the capacity to degrade the environment for up to 310 years.
What Is The Cause of The Greenhouse Effect?
The major cause of the greenhouse effect is the unlawful and hazardous activities of humans. These activities contribute to the harmful cause of greenhouse effect. Burning of fossil fuels containing carbon components is a key cause of the same. The carbon released in the air reacts with the oxygen and forms the deadly compound of carbon dioxide.
Moreover, another key element causing the greenhouse effect is the deforestation and unethical utilisation of land. The carbon dioxide stored in trees is released in heavy amounts and adds to the risk of global warming.
Heavy consumption of commercial appliances like air conditioners also add to the emission of greenhouse gases in the environment. Moreover, the landfills containing millions of nonrecyclable materials are burnt in the open air. This also contributes to the addition of carbon dioxide in the air.
FAQs on Greenhouse Effect
1. What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun. This process warms the planet's surface to a temperature that can sustain life. Solar radiation reaches the Earth, and some of it is reflected back into space, while the rest is absorbed and re-radiated as heat. Greenhouse gases absorb this heat, preventing it from escaping, thus acting like the glass walls of a greenhouse.
2. What are the main causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect?
The enhanced greenhouse effect, which leads to global warming, is primarily caused by human activities that increase the concentration of greenhouse gases. The main causes include:
- Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy and transportation releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
- Deforestation: Trees absorb CO₂, so cutting them down reduces the planet's ability to remove this gas from the atmosphere.
- Industrial Processes: Many industrial activities release potent greenhouse gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and nitrous oxide (N₂O).
- Agriculture: Practices like rice cultivation and livestock farming produce significant amounts of methane (CH₄).
3. What are the primary greenhouse gases as per the NCERT syllabus?
The primary greenhouse gases discussed in the NCERT syllabus include:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): The most significant greenhouse gas, mainly from burning fossil fuels.
- Methane (CH₄): Released from agriculture, waste decomposition, and natural gas systems.
- Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): Emitted from agricultural and industrial activities, as well as combustion of fossil fuels.
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): Man-made compounds once used in refrigerants and aerosols, which also deplete the ozone layer.
- Ozone (O₃): A greenhouse gas found in the troposphere.
- Water Vapour (H₂O): The most abundant greenhouse gas, its concentration increases as the atmosphere warms, creating a feedback loop.
4. How is the greenhouse effect different from global warming?
The greenhouse effect and global warming are related but distinct concepts. The greenhouse effect is a natural and essential process that keeps the Earth warm enough for life to exist. In contrast, global warming refers to the recent and ongoing rise in the Earth's average temperature caused by the enhancement of the natural greenhouse effect due to the excessive emission of greenhouse gases from human activities.
5. Why is the phenomenon called the 'greenhouse effect'?
The term 'greenhouse effect' is an analogy. In a greenhouse, the glass roof allows sunlight to enter but traps the heat inside, keeping the interior warm. Similarly, the Earth's atmosphere has gases that allow sunlight to pass through to the surface but trap the outgoing heat (infrared radiation), preventing it from escaping into space. This atmospheric trapping of heat mimics the function of a greenhouse, hence the name.
6. Is the greenhouse effect always harmful?
No, the natural greenhouse effect is not only harmless but also essential for life on Earth. Without it, the planet's average temperature would be about -18°C, making it too cold for most life forms to survive. The problem arises from the 'enhanced' greenhouse effect, where human activities release excess greenhouse gases, trapping too much heat and leading to harmful global warming and climate change.
7. What are the major environmental consequences of an enhanced greenhouse effect?
An enhanced greenhouse effect, leading to global warming, has severe environmental consequences. These include:
- Melting of Glaciers and Ice Caps: This causes sea levels to rise, leading to coastal flooding.
- Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts, floods, and hurricanes.
- Disruption of Ecosystems: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns threaten biodiversity, leading to habitat loss and species extinction.
- Ocean Acidification: The ocean absorbs excess CO₂, becoming more acidic, which harms marine life, particularly coral reefs and shellfish.
