The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

Global warming is the increase of the average temperatures near or on the surface of the earth because of what is known as the greenhouse effect. The effect is caused by greenhouse effect. These gases are produced from natural and industrial processes.

The greenhouse effect is the process in which the emission of radiation by the atmosphere warms the earth's surface.

When heat from the sun reaches the earth's surface in form of sunlight, the earth absorbs some of it. The rest is radiated back to the atmosphere at a longer wavelength than the incoming sunlight.

Sources of greenhouse effect

1. Carbon dioxide
2. Clearing and burning of vegetation
3. Burning of fossil fuel
4. Methane
5. Dinitrogen oxide
6. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

The occurrence of global warming

Global warming is primarily a problem of too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, which acts as a blanket, trapping heat and warming the planet. As we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas for energy or cut down and burn forests to create pastures and plantations, carbon accumulates and overloads our atmosphere. Certain waste management and agricultural practices aggravate the problem by releasing other potent global warming gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide.

Effects of global warming

1. Increase in the temperature of the oceans.
2. Rise in sea levels.
3. Change in world's climatic pattern.
4. Acidification of the oceans.
5. Extreme weather events.
6. Higher or lower agricultural yields.
7. Melting of Arctic ice and snowcaps.
8. Extinction of some animal and plant species.