Greenhouse effect

Under normal conditions (with normal CO2Concentration) the temperature at the surface of the
earth is maintained by the energy balance of the sun rays that strike the planet the planet and heat
that is radiated back into space. However, when there is an increase in CO 2 concentration, the
thick layer of this gas prevents the heat from being re-radiated out. This thick CO2 layer thus
functions like the glass panels of a greenhouse (or the glass windows of a motor car), allowing
the sunlight to filter through but preventing the heat from being re-radiated in outer space. This is
the so-called greenhouse effect or global warming.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): Gases responsible for Nitrogen and oxygen, the main constituents
of the atmosphere, play no part in the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse is considered to be one of
the most important of these greenhouse gases, absorbing most of the heat trapped by the
atmosphere.Other gases of special importance in global warming are chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs), methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Although the average concentrations of these gases
are much lower than that of carbon dioxide, they are much more efficient than carbon dioxide at
soaking up long – wave radiation. Overall, carbon dioxide is estimated to cause almost 60 per
cent of the warming effect and CFCs about 25 per cent, and the remainder is caused by
methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and other trace gases.

Nearly hundred years ago the CO2 concentration was 275 ppm, today it is 350 ppm and by
the year 2040 it is expected to reach 450 ppm.

Table:Global warming potential of different GHGs

GHGs Global Sources Management
warming
potential
CO2 1  Respiration of living  Photosynthesis
organisms, microbial  C sequestration:
decompostion of organic Carbon dioxide is
matter, removed from the
  forest fires occur, atmosphere (or
 burning of fossil fuel (i.e. "sequestered")
wood, coal, natural gas, when it is
gasoline, and oil), absorbed by plants
 volcanoes eruption, as part of the
 cement production biological carbon
cycle.
CH4 27-30  Paddy field,
 Microbial decompostion of
organic matter under
anaerobic condition,
 Production and transport of
coal, natural gas, and oil,

NxO 270  Agriculture

 Industrial activities;
 Combustion of fossil fuels
CFC (Chloro- 1000  Refrigerators & freezers,
fluorocarbons,  Air conditioners
hydrochloro-  Heat pumps;
fluorocarbons,  as propellants in asthma
and halons) sprays
 Technical aerosol spray cans;
 As blowing agents for foams
and in fire extinguishers.

The Greenhouse effect and global warming

 Nearly all the incoming solar energy (arrives extra terrestrially), with wavelength less than 4
μm (short wavelength radiation), while the outgoing energy radiated by the earth has
essentially all of its energy in wavelength greater than 4 μm (long wavelength or thermal
radiation). Incoming solar radiation with wavelengths less than 0.3 μm (ultraviolet) is
absorbed by oxygen and ozone in the stratosphere. Most of the long wave-length energy
radiated by the earth is affected by a combination of radiatively active gases, most importantly
water vapour (H2O), CO2, N2O and CH4.Radiatively active gases that absorb wavelengths
longer than 4 μm are called greenhouse gases.
 These gases trap most of the outgoing thermal radiation attempting to leave the earth's
surface. This absorption heats the atmosphere, which, in turn, radiates energy back to the
earth as well as out to space. The greenhouse effect adds 33°C of warming to the surface of
the earth, i.e., if there was no greenhouse effect, the earth would have an average temperature
of –18°C or about0°C.
 Distributed over the entire surface of the earth, the incoming solar radiation is equal to
343W/m2. Since the albedo is 30% (103 W/m2), the amount of incoming radiation absorbed
by the atmosphere and earth is 240W/m2. Of that 240 W/m2, 86 W/m2 are absorbed by the
atmosphere and the remaining 154 W/m2 are absorbed by the surface of the earth.
 Certain gases in the atmosphere, known as ‘green house’ gases like CO, CO2, CH4 are able to
absorb and emit heat. When sunlight strikes the earth’s surface it warms up, emits heat, which
radiates upwards into space. This heat warms up the greenhouse gases so that they also emit
heat, some into space and some back down to earth.

Other causes of global warming

 The second major cause of global warming is the depletion of ozone layer. This happens
mainly due to the presence of chlorine-containing source gases. When ultraviolet light is
present, these gases dissociate releasing chlorine atoms which then catalyses ozone
destruction.
 Aerosols present in the atmosphere are also causing global warming by changing the
climate in two different ways. Firstly, they scatter and absorb solar and infrared radiation and
secondly, they may alter the microphysical and chemical properties of clouds and perhaps
affect their lifetime and extent. The scattering of solar radiation acts to cool the planet, while
absorption of solar radiation by aerosols warms the air directly instead of permitting sunlight
to be absorbed by the surface of the Earth. The human contribution to the amount of
aerosols in the atmosphere is of various forms. For instance, dust is a by-product of
agriculture.
 Biomass burning generates a mixture of organic droplets and soot particles. Many industrial
processes produce a wide diversity of aerosols depending on what is being burned or
generated in the manufacturing process. Moreover, exhaust emissions from various sorts of
transport produce a rich mixture of pollutants that are either aerosols from the outset or are
transformed by chemical reactions in the atmosphere to form aerosols.

Global Warming and Climate Change

1. Frequent flooding: Due to the melting of glaciers under the influence of global warming
rivers are receiving more water than their capacity, resulting to spread of excess water to
surrounding area. Glaciers all over the world are shrinking at a very rapid rate and
melting of ice appears to be faster than previously projected. Rising of sea levels is the
most deadly effect of global warming, the rise in temperature is causing the ice and
glaciers to melt rapidly. This will lead to rise of water levels in oceans, rivers and lakes
that can pilot devastation in the form of floods
2. Drought: When the weather turns warmer, evaporation process from both land and sea
rises. This leads to drought in the regions where increased evaporation process is not
compensated by rainfall.
3. Climate Change: The warmer climate will likely cause more heat waves, more violent
rainfall and also amplification in the severity of hailstorms and thunderstorms. We are
currently experiencing severity of extreme climate events in the form of thunderstorms,
floods and earthquakes. This destruction will take a sharp hike if nothing is done to stop
this menace. Crop failures and famines, which are a direct consequence of heating up of
earth.

Climate change and its causes

 Climate is the average weather in a place over many years.
 The weather can change in just a few hours whereas climate takes millions of years to
change.
 Planet earth has witnessed many variations in climate since the beginning. (e.g., Thar
desert)
Evidence of Climate Change
 Change in weather clock
 Sea level rise
 Global temperature rise
 Decreased snow cover
 Declining Arctic Sea
 Glacial retreat
 Extreme natural events
 Ocean acidification
Causes of Climate Change
There are several causes of climate change. The most significant anthropogenic effect on the
climate is the increasing trend in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The causes can be grouped into two:
Astronomical causes
1. Sunspot activities:
 Sunspots are dark and cooler patches on the sun which rise and fall in a recurring
manner.
 When the number of sunspots increases, cooler and wetter weather and greater
storminess occur.
 These modify the amount of insolation received from the sun, which in turn,
might have a bearing on the climate.

2. Millankovitch oscillations:
Milankovitch oscillations, which infer cycles in the variations in the earth’s orbital
characteristics around the sun, the wobbling of the earth and the changes in the
earth’s axial tilt. All these alter the amount of insolation received from the sun, which
in turn, might have a bearing on the climate.
Terrestrial causes
 1. Volcanism:
 Volcanism is regarded as another cause for climate change.
 Volcanic eruptions throw up loads of aerosols into the atmosphere.
 These aerosols persist in the atmosphere for a substantial period of time decreasing the
radiation of sun reaching the surface of Earth.
2. Concentration of greenhouse:
 The greenhouse effect is a normal process that warms the surface of the Earth.
 Solar radiation reaches the atmosphere of Earth and some of this is reflected back into
space.
 The rest of the energy of the sun is absorbed by the terrestrial and the oceans, heating the
Earth. Heat radiates from Earth towards space.
 Some of this heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth
warm enough to sustain life.
 Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture, and land clearing are increasing
the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
 This is trapping extra heat, and causing the temperature of the earth to rise and ultimately
result in Global Warming.
 Global warming is the gradual heating of the surface of the Earth, ocean, and atmosphere.
 Global warming begins with the greenhouse effect, which is caused by the interaction
between incoming radiation from the sun and the atmosphere of Earth.
 The atmosphere is acting as a greenhouse due to the presence of greenhouse gases.