The Greenhouse Effect

In this article, the author discusses the greenhouse effect, and the potential consequences which arise when greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. This consequence is, of course, global warming. Global warming is perhaps one of the most prevalent issues discussed in modern science. Scientific evidence suggests that global warming is the result of a rise in greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, due to industrial processes and the burning of fossil fuels.                         

The greenhouse effect is the process by which UV rays from the sun enter the Earth’s atmosphere, and are absorbed by the atmosphere, oceans, and the Earth’s surface. Heat is then released in the form of IR radiation, which is passed back into space. The author acknowledges that it is this process of energy in-energy out which makes the earth habitable in the first place.

When humans burn fossil fuels for energy, a variety of different vapors are released into the atmosphere. These are known as greenhouse gases. The examples highlighted by the author include water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane gas. When these gases exist in high densities in the Earth’s atmosphere, the IR radiation becomes absorbed by the greenhouse gases. This radiation is then dispersed in all different directions by the gasses in the atmosphere. This means that a portion of this radiation is being directed back to Earth. This leads to more heat being released, thus warming Earth’s surface. As more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, more radiation is directed back towards Earth’s surface.