|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
Global warming is when carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases and other pollutants in the atmosphere consume the sunlight that is recoiled of the earth’s surface. Generally the radiation would bounce back to space, but these gases that last for centuries in the atmosphere, suck the heat which makes the temperature warm.
Over past few centuries humans have changed the earth’s temperature in dramatic ways resulting in global warming. There should be a balance between the radiation that the earth receives from the space and the radiation that bounces back to the space. 30% of the radiation is immediately reflected back to space by clouds, ice, snow, and other reflective surfaces. The remaining 70% of the radiation is absorbed by the land, oceans and atmosphere. As the Earth heats up, it releases heat in the form of thermal radiation which passes out of atmosphere into the space. Without atmospheric equilibrium Earth would be as cold as Moon or as hot as Venus.
Greenhouse Effect on Global Warming
Greenhouse receives heat in the form of UV radiation of sun. The UV rays pass easily from the transparent glasses of the greenhouse and get absorbed by the plants. Weaker radiation gets trapped inside the glasses thus warming the greenhouse. Greenhouse effect is the natural process that warms the temperature of the earth. The natural greenhouse gases in the atmosphere cause 33°Celsius warmer temperature than it would be in its absence.
Enhanced Green House Effect
Our current problem is the enhanced greenhouse effect due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, over use of natural resources, clearing forests, farming etc. that are increasing the concentrations of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, ozone, methane, water vapor and chemicals such as CFCs.
Conclusion
It is a fact that burning fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas releases greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The gases raise the temperature of the atmosphere. The switch to renewable resources for energy such as wind energy, solar energy and hydropower will help to moderate the demand of fossil fuels which will cut down the emission of greenhouse gases. We can also contribute by planting trees, saving electricity, using public transport instead of car, and creating awareness to prevent global warming.