Can you feel that day by day there is increase in heat in the atmosphere where you are living in? And if yes then have you ever to find out why it happens? It’s the green house effect on the earth which has been increasing the temperature year by year. What is green house effect?
The atmosphere in which we live is filled up with various gases which are known as green house gases, gases like methane, carbon di oxide, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The presence of such gases does not harm the environment but increase of them in the atmosphere affects. These green house gases acts like the shield of the earth, as the sun rays come on the earth it passes by this shield of gasses this shield of gasses let the rays enter into the atmosphere and reflects them in the space. The less is reflected and more is absorbed by the earth. Out of which these green house gases trap the heat in them, which are necessary to maintain the temperature. But when the number of gases increases in the atmosphere, each greenhouse gas molecule is made of three or more atoms that are bonded loosely together. These molecules are able to absorb heat, which makes them vibrate. They eventually release the heat energy and it is often absorbed by another greenhouse gas molecule.
This leads to increase in temperature, increase in the rate of using vehicles, growing industries, etc. are responsible for rapid rise in the frequency of green house gas rate. It’s called as green house effect. This increased green house effect is causing changes in our planet that affect our lives
As greenhouse gas emissions from human activities increase, they contribute to more warming of the climate, leading to many other changes around the world—in the atmosphere, on land, and in the oceans. These changes will have both positive and negative effects on people, plants, and animals. Because many of the major greenhouse gases can stay in the atmosphere for tens to hundreds of years after being released, their warming effects on the climate will persist over a long time.
The increase of green house effect is actually creates the effect of global warming, this has resulted in serious climate change. The average global temperature has increased by 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1970 and is currently increasing at a rate of about 2.9 degrees per century. Although this average for the entire planet seems minor, local changes are actually much greater. Land areas are warming faster than the oceans, and temperatures near the poles are rising faster. Arctic temperatures have increased at twice the global average, for example, Climate change is already causing sea levels to raise due to melting glaciers and thermal expansion of water.
It has been also predicted that climate change is difficult. No one knows how many greenhouse gas emissions will continue. In addition, potential feedback loops complicate predictions. Increasing temperatures would melt snow and ice, for example, exposing darker land or water underneath. This, in turn, would reflect less radiation and increase warming. Warmer air can also hold more water vapor, another greenhouse gas. Advanced computer models predict that the average surface temperature of the planet will increase by 2 to 11.5 degrees F by 2100, leading to a sea level rise of 7.2 to 23.6 inches
As there is increasing effect of green house effect there Is also ways to reduce it, refer the article REVOLUTIONIZING RECYCLE, to prevent the effect of the green house effect we have to follow the 3R REUSE, REDUCE AND RECYCLE. Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isn’t a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
Not only following the 3R but also using energy efficient machines in their day today life for example, refrigerators without CFCs, more usage of public transport then private vehicles, Conserve electricity by switching off the TV, computer, radio and lights whenever possible. Unplug electronics from the socket when you are not using them. Use compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, which can reduce energy consumption by approximately 60 percent, in place of incandescent light bulbs. Opt for energy-efficient appliances when shopping. Such products are often marked with the Energy Star label, Plant trees; they contribute to the absorption of excess carbon dioxide. Providing shade and windbreaks, trees also contribute to creating even temperatures for buildings, thereby reducing the energy requirement for heating or cooling, Avoid buying heavily packaged items, decreasing the amount of garbage that you contribute. Research conducted by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program suggests that garbage breakdown in landfills is the top source of human-induced methane emissions.
United Nations climate scientists have set an upper limit for the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted before the greenhouse effect is irreversible. Unless all countries participate in plans to reduce carbon emissions and deforestation, this limit will be exceeded in a matter of decades. Individual lifestyle changes are a good first step toward preventing the greenhouse effect, but this goal will not be achieved without large-scale changes in industrial practices.
So to save our globe our every small step can make a prodigious change, it is our duty to save our planet !
Leave a Reply