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GREENHOUSE GASES AND THEIR

EFFECTS ON RAINBOW FORMATION

By: Kaleb Cobb

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction/Problem

2. Causes and Formation of Rainbows in Nature

3. Causes and Effects of Greenhouse Gases

4. Conclusion/Solution

5. References
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Introduction

Rainbows are an intrinsic part of nature, happening automatically under the

correct weather conditions. When most people think about rainbows, they often think

about them as just happening due to a rainstorm. While rainstorms are one of the ideal

conditions for a rainbow to appear, there are several different conditions that can cause

rainbows to appear and vary in intensity and form. Rainbows have become not only a

sign of being able to tell when there has recently been a rainstorm, but they have also

become a sign of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Greenhouse gases can cause

various problems in the world, including climate change and potential respiratory issues

(Nunez, 2019). The main purpose of this paper is to educate on the formation of

rainbows, the causes and effects of greenhouse gases in the environment, and potential

solutions to the issue of greenhouse gases.

Causes and Formation of Rainbows in Nature

The primary cause of rainbows in nature is water

droplets. As seen in Figure 2, water droplets fall from the

sky and light refracts through the droplets, rainbows will

form. While most people believe what they are seeing is

actually in the sky, Julissa Treviño describes it as an

Figure 2: The refraction of light
“optical illusion” caused by the refraction of the light. through water droplets. (SciJinks)
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Later in the paper, discussions of potential differences in weather conditions is discussed,

talking about how if there is a difference in intensity of one of the conditions, there will

be a visual difference in the rainbow that is formed.

Like previously stated, rainbows are formed when

water droplets and sunlight combine in order to create the

colored bands that we see in the sky as a rainbow. In an

article from MetOffice, there are a specific set of

circumstances that are necessary in order to be able to view a

rainbow. Figure 3 depicts the ideal conditions to be able to

Figure 3: A diagram depicting all
view a rainbow. The instructions mainly pertain to optimal conditions for viewing a
rainbow. (MetOffice)

environmental factors, but one rule primarily relates to the

viewer. The one rule for the viewer is the angle to stand at in order to see the rainbow.

The three environmental factors taken into consideration are the angle of the sun and the

presence of water droplets in the air. These two factors are what were primarily discussed

in the causes of rainbows, so it makes sense that they are necessary to take in

consideration when seeing how to optimally view a rainbow. When taking into account

the variations of a rainbow that may occur, the conditions stated above can obviously

differ due to changes in weather, but a rainbow will still appear. Even if it does vary in

intensity, shape, and color, the angles described above for viewing a rainbow are still

referred to as the optimal conditions to see a rainbow.

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Causes and Effects of Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases are caused by basic fuel emissions by people in the world.

There are several different causes of greenhouse gas emissions, but the primary causes

are transportation – people using their cars, public transportation, and other forms of

transportation. Another form of greenhouse gas

emissions is electricity – using things like coal

and natural gas as forms of electricity causes

further emissions of greenhouses gases in the air

(EPA, 2019). When greenhouse gases are

emitted in the air, it causes the layers of the
atmosphere that protects us from the sun’s rays .
Greenhouse gases also become trapped in the
Figure 4: Emission of gases from a
power plant that contribute
heavily to the greenhouse effect
(NatGeo).

atmosphere instead of going out into space, which causes more heat to form in the

environment, one of the main causes of climate change (Nunez, 2019). There are several

other detrimental effects of greenhouse gases, including potential food supply

interruptions respiratory issues in humans, and potential extinction of several different

species of animals. Due to the affect greenhouse gases have on the environment by letting

the sun’s rays shine harder on the atmosphere, it can potentially cause rainbows to

become more vibrant.

Conclusion/Solution

Greenhouse gases have become more frequent in the environment because of the

frequent use of transportation as well as the use of energy through means of coal and
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natural gases. The main phrase that most ecological associations use when speaking on

reducing greenhouse gas emissions is “reducing your carbon footprint.” This phrase

basically means reducing the use of everything in your life that could be contributing to

these emissions of greenhouse gases – driving your car, taking public transportation,

using natural gas a form of energy in your house. To limit emissions from using

transportation in your daily life, one recommendation would be to potentially move from

a car that uses gas to an electric car – hybrid and totally electric cars have become very

easy to come by, with some of the main car companies in the world starting to make

hybrid-electric cars. To limit emissions from energy, using renewable energy options like

solar energy panels as a source of energy would heavily lower or potentially eliminate the

emissions of greenhouse gases. Another option for alternative energy options would be

nuclear power – nuclear power has been shown to have virtually no effects on greenhouse

gas emissions. The issues most people have with nuclear power is the high costs of using

nuclear energy, as well as the disposal of nuclear waste after the energy has been used.

While there are pros and cons to all the options listed above, the long-terms effects that

greenhouse gases have caused and will continue to cause on the environment and

everything that’s living in it are worth giving these alternative options a shot in our daily

lives.
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References

Cappucci, Matthew. “Explainer: Rainbows, Fogbows and Their Eerie Cousins.” Science
News for Students, 23 Aug. 2020,
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/explainer-rainbows-fogbows-and-
cousins.

Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. EPA.

Retrieved December 8, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-
greenhouse-gas-emissions.

“Fogbows Are Rainbows' Cousins.” EarthSky, 18 July 2021,

https://earthsky.org/earth/what-is-a-fogbow/.

“How Are Rainbows Formed?” Met Office, https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-

about/weather/optical-effects/rainbows/how-are-rainbows-formed.

Nunez, C. (2021, May 3). Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at a record high. here's
what you need to know.Environment. Retrieved December 8, 2021, from
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/greenhouse-gases.

Treviño, Julissa. “How Are Rainbows Formed? with Simple Atmospheric

Science.” Popular Science, 9 Aug. 2021, https://www.popsci.com/how-rainbows-
form/.

What we can do. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. (2020, March 26). Retrieved
December 8, 2021, from https://www.c2es.org/content/what-we-can-do/.

“What Causes a Rainbow?” NOAA SciJinks – All About Weather,

https://scijinks.gov/rainbow/.