What Is Greenhouse Effect? The greenhouse effect has more than one meaning and it is related to the warming of earth’s atmosphere. There is a man-made effect of greenhouse and a natural greenhouse effect related to climate warming. Lately we have been creating negative impact on the earth due to burning of fossil fuels.
In the last 150 years there have been many changes in human activities that lead to production of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The burning of fossil fuels in recent decades have been a strong reason for increase in the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gases are responsible to trap the infrared which can make the earth warm. Lower layers of our atmosphere can remain warm and the higher layers cold due to greenhouse gases. Water vapor is one major greenhouse gas apart from methane and carbon dioxide along with few other gases. There is increase in these gases leading to the greenhouse effect.
The light from our sun is absorbed by earth and more individuals are worried about rise in the earth’s temperature due to this heat. Following actions can lead to greenhouse effects:
- Land mining and deforestation
- Burning of fossil fuels like natural gas, oil and coal
- Increase in population
- Farming practices
The global temperature has increased considerably and it is estimated that 2100 will see temperature increase by 1.4 – 5.8 degree Celsius. Now tracing the greenhouse gases has made humans more aware about the scientific phenomenon. It is seen that more icecaps are melting and the glaciers vanishing due to rise in temperature. This has directly increased water levels in seas and oceans. Birds, animals and humans have faced disturbances due to the greenhouse effects in a direct or indirect way. The percentage of total solar energy reflected back can change the global climate fluctuations.
