Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect

What is the greenhouse effect, and how does it work?

The greenhouse effect has two meanings in general. One is a natural greenhouse effect which keeps the climate of earth habitable and warm. Another one is the man-made greenhouse effect which adds greenhouse gases from burning of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. This is used for enhancing the earth's natural greenhouse effect (Cook, 2007).

Now, for understanding how the greenhouse effect works, one requires to understand infrared radiation first. The gases of greenhouse reduce the rate at which the surface of earth loses infrared radiation towards the outer space. The greenhouse gases may be considered as a blanket for the infrared radiation. They help in keeping the surface of earth and atmosphere lower layers warmer, and the upper layers colder.

What are the main greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases are present in the atmosphere which prevents the heat radiation of the earth on a direct path from the surface into space. They heat up the atmosphere and act like the glass panels of a greenhouse. Without these gases, the natural greenhouse effect on Earth would be impossible (Reiter, 2004). The following are given the brief description of the greenhouse gases which are present in the atmosphere:

Methane: Methane (CH4) is only in trace amounts in the atmosphere. Methane has a share of approximately 20 percent of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. The residence time in the atmosphere is from 9 to 15 years and is significantly shorter than in CO2.

Carbon dioxide: it is present in the atmosphere in an amount of about 0.039% and has a share of about 20 percent at the natural greenhouse effect.

Nitrous oxide: Nitrous oxide (N2O) share in greenhouse is 298 times as large as that of CO2. Man-made emissions come mainly from agriculture ...