Cover page

Table content

Introduction

CHAPTER 1: Causes of greenhouse gases

CHAPTER 2: Important of greenhouse effects

CHAPTER 3: Disadvantages of greenhouse effect

CHAPTER 4: The changing of environment

CHAPTER 5: How to reduce greenhouse effect

Conclusion

Bibliography

Glossary

Introduction

Greenhouse gases are those gases that contributes to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere by reflecting radiation from the earth’s surface. Greenhouse gases greatly affect the temperature of the earth without them, Earth’s surface would be about 33°C (59°C) colder than at present. Greenhouse gases are those that can absorb and emit infrared radiation. In order, the most abundant greenhouse gases in earth’s atmosphere are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone.

Chapter 1: Causes of greenhouse effect

Source: http://climatechange.procon.org/

Greenhouse Effect, the capacity of certain gases in the atmosphere to trap heat emitted from earth’s surface,thereby insulating and warming the planet. The greenhouse effect has warmed earth for over 4 billion years. Now scientist are growing increasingly concerned that human activities may be modifying this natural process, with potentially dangerous consequences.

Earth is surrounded by a layer of gases called atmosphere. This atmosphere includes many types of gases among which greenhouse gases are one. These greenhouse gases play an important role in greenhouse effect. They surround the earth like gases in green house and do not allow the heat to escape into space and hence keep the earth warm.

Another causes of greenhouse causes is ozone layer depletion. Ozone depletion describe two distinct but related phenomena observed since the late 1970s a steady decline of about 4% per decade in the total volume of ozone in earth’s stratosphere (the ozone layer), and much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone over earth’s polar regions. The latter phenomenon is referred to as the ozone hole.

Source: http://prezi.com/vstq6sdf9b9_/ozone-layer-deplation

Chapter 2: Important of greenhouse effect

Sources: http://astronomyonline.org/SolarSystem/EarthWeather.asp

The greenhouse effect refers to the ability of the atmosphere to trap the sun’s heat, increasing the temperature of the planet. When the sun’s energy reaches Earth, the atmosphere absorbs some of it on the way down, and then absorbs more when that energy reflects back off the surface during the day. This trapped energy heats up the atmosphere, increasing the temperature of the planet and distributing warmth to its night side, when solar heating is unavailable. The denser the atmosphere, and the higher the concentration of energy-holding molecules like water vapour and carbon dioxide, the more energy the atmosphere can trap.

The greenhouse effect is important, because it contributes to the survival of life on Earth. Without the greenhouse effect, the temperature of the planet would be similar to conditions experienced on the moon. On the lunar surface, with no atmosphere to mediate temperature swings, the surface can reach 134 degrees Celsius (273 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and -153 degrees Celsius (-244 degrees Fahrenheit) at night. This dramatic temperature change required NASA to develop specialised gear to protect astronauts from both extremes for the moon landings. A similar temperature swing on Earth would have produced an environment hostile to most living things.

Unfortunately, while a moderate greenhouse effect is vital to life, an elevated greenhouse effect can be dangerous. Since the Industrial Revolution, the widespread adoption of fossil fuels has increased the amount of carbon dioxide, water vapour, and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. According to a study by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre of the United States Department of Energy, carbon dioxide levels have increased 39.5 percent since 1750, while levels of methane in the atmosphere have jumped by 150 percent. Climate scientists point to this increase in heat-trapping gases as one of the reasons global temperatures have risen during this period.

One of the chief concerns about an increase in the greenhouse effect is that the changes can become self-sustaining. As more greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere, its ability to trap heat increases.

As the warmth of the atmosphere increases, the amount of water vapour it can hold increases as well, further boosting the effect. In addition, increased global temperatures threaten to release large amounts of carbon that is currently frozen into permafrost zones, also exacerbating the problem. Excessive heat retention could lead to massive changes in natural water distribution and available land mass on a global scale. The effect of mitigating factors, such as increased cloud cover reflecting sunlight back into space, is not well understood.

Chapter 3: Disadvantages of greenhouse effect

As sunlight reaches the Earth, some of it reflects off the surface back towards space as infrared radiation, or heat. Greenhouse gases--carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone--absorb this infrared radiation and trap heat in the atmosphere. However, large concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lead to a phenomenon called the greenhouse effect, which results in climate change, a condition characterised by rising temperatures, rising sea levels and changing weather patterns. These environmental results of the greenhouse effect can have a detrimental effect in many areas of your life.

HealthRising temperatures have a direct impact on human health. When exposed to high levels of heat, people can suffer from elevated body temperature, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke. Trees, grasses, weeds and moulds that cause allergic reactions in people thrive in a warmer climate, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. In addition, the EPA reports that diseases such as salmonella and cholera, which are transmitted through contaminated food and water, may become more widespread due to flooding. Increased activity among ticks and mosquitoes due to changing temperatures and rain patterns may transmit other illnesses, such as the West Nile virus, malaria and Lyme disease, across a wider area.

Water ResourcesThe EPA states that changing weather patterns and higher temperatures affect the amount and quality of water resources available for human consumption. Droughts can dry up scarce water resources, a dangerous condition in desert-like regions, such as the Southwestern United States, that have limited water resources. On the other hand, severe storms and flooding can wash chemicals and other contaminants into rivers, streams and lakes, which lowers the quality of the water.

AgricultureHigher temperatures have negative effects on crops and livestock. Increasing temperatures in warmer areas of the globe might result in temperatures that are too high for certain crops to grow, according to the EPA. Changing rainfall patterns and more severe storms can also decrease crop yield. These conditions also place stress on livestock, causing animals, such as cattle, to sicken or die. As farmers and ranchers lose crops and livestock, food production will decrease, which can result in famines in some areas of the world.

Energy ProductionRising temperatures require more energy for air conditioning during the summer. According to the EPA, increased use of air conditioning puts a strain on the power plants, transmission grids and distribution systems of power companies as they try to produce enough energy to meet the rising demands. This stress to the energy infrastructure could lead to brownouts or power outages during heat waves. Furthermore, consumers will likely see a rise in their electricity costs during these periods.

EcosystemsThe EPA defines an ecosystem as an interdependent system of plants, animals and microorganisms that interact with their physical environment and with each other. The greenhouse effect can significantly alter fragile land and water ecosystems and disrupt life in these regions. As the climate changes in certain regions, some plants and animals may be unable to adapt to these rapid changes and will either die or migrate to more hospitable regions. Thus, some ecosystems could lose entire species.

Source: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html

Chapter 4: The changing of environment

Source:

Almost 100% of the observed temperature increase over the last 50 years has been due to the increase in the atmosphere of greenhouse gas concentrations like water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and ozone. Greenhouse gases are those gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect (see below). The largest contributing source of greenhouse gas is the burning of fossil fuels leading to the emission of carbon dioxide. When sunlight reaches Earth's surface some is absorbed and warms the earth and most of the rest is radiated back to the atmosphere at a longer wavelength than the sun light. Some of these longer wavelengths are absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere before they are lost to space. The absorption of this long wave radiant energy warms the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases act like a mirror and reflect back to the Earth some of the heat energy which would otherwise be lost to space. The reflecting back of heat energy by the atmosphere is called the "greenhouse effect".

The major natural greenhouse gases are water vapour, which causes about 36-70% of the greenhouse effect on Earth (not including clouds); carbon dioxide CO2, which causes 9-26%; methane, which causes 4-9%, and ozone, which causes 3-7%. It is not possible to state that a certain gas causes a certain percentage of the greenhouse effect, because the influences of the various gases are not additive. Other greenhouse gases include, but are not limited to, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, per-fluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere act like a mirror and reflect back to the Earth a part of the heat radiation, which would otherwise be lost to space. The higher the concentration of green house gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more heat energy is being reflected back to the Earth. The emission of carbon dioxide into the environment mainly from burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas, petrol, kerosene, etc.) has been increased dramatically over the past 50 years, see graph below.

Source: http://skepticalscience.com/graphics.php?g=12

Chapter 5: How to reduce greenhouse effect

Reduce, Reuse, RecycleBuying products with minimal packaging will help to reduce waste. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Use Less Heat and Air ConditioningAdding insulation to your walls and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home. Turn down the heat while you’re sleeping at night or away during the day, and keep temperatures moderate at all times. Install a programmable thermostat because setting it just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

Replace Your Light BulbsWherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat. If every Canadian family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

Drive Less and Drive SmartLess driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Explore the York Region Transit system and check out options for carpooling to work or school. When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Buy Energy-Efficient ProductsHome appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs.

Use Less Hot WaterSet your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 15 years old. Buy low-flow shower heads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households.

Plant a Tree If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.

Encourage Others to Conserve

Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment.These 10 steps will take you a long way toward reducing your energy use and saving you money. Less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.

Source: http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-recycle-reduce-carbon-emissions-collection-image12979990

Conclusion:

Based on the research done for this paper work, we have to start doing something if everyone put some effort there will be no heat everywhere. We have no much forest even not much tree due to causes by greenhouse effect. We need to start recycling and stop polluting the earth.

Bibliography

http://www.eastgwillimbury.ca/Services/Environment/Ten_Ways_to_Reduce_Greenhouse_Gases.htm?PageMode=Print

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-recycle-reduce-carbon-emissions-collection-image12979990

http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/ReduceGasEmissions

http://www.ciesin.org/docs/003-074/003-074.html

http://science.opposingviews.com/importance-greenhouse-effect-3535.html

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/greenhouse_effect.aspx

http://www.ibguides.com/biology/notes/the-greenhouse-effect

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/greenhouse+effect

http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/activities/50193.html

Glossary

Global warming- The overall rise in the average temperature of the atmosphere

EPA- Environmental Protection Agency

CFL- Compact Fluorescent Light