Chemistry Project
Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases are gases—like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane,
and nitrous oxide—that keep the Earth warmer than it would be
without them. Greenhouse gases reflect infrared radiation and some
of the heat leaving the Earth bounces off the greenhouse gases in our
atmosphere and comes back to the Earth’s surface. This is called the
“greenhouse effect,”. Earth’s conditions (15 °C on average) are not
too hot and not too cold allowing life to flourish. The level of carbon
dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere has been rising trapping extra heat
near Earth's surface, causing temperatures to rise. This causes Global
Warming.
History
In the early 1800s, scientists came to understand that the Earth had
undergone ice ages and other climate changes over the years, based
on geologic evidence left behind from past ice ages. As the 1800s
progressed, changes in the concentrations of heat trapping
atmospheric gases (such as carbon dioxide and water vapor) and the
natural greenhouse effect were recognized by some in the scientific
community. a Swedish scientist named Svante Arrhenius calculated
how much the Earth would cool if carbon dioxide levels were half of
what they were at his time. Arvid Högbom calculated how much
carbon dioxide was being emitted by mankind’s industrial and coal
burning activities, and realized that carbon dioxide levels in the
atmosphere were slowly increasing due to man’s activities and
addition of carbon dioxide to the Earth’s atmosphere could cause
warming of the Earth’s temperatures over a long period of time. After
that in 1979, the first World Climate Conference was held which was
concerned about climate change and specifically global warming
Cause of Global Warming
Man made:-
Trees maintain an ecological balance by taking in carbon dioxide and
releasing oxygen into the air. Carbon dioxide concentrations are
rising causing more trapping of heat.
Temperature rises are frequently caused by gaseous emissions from
cars and trucks, which capture the energy and convert it to heat.
Greater usage of technical appliances such as air conditioners and
freezers are also reasons as they emit CFC which destroys ozone
layer which shield’s earth’s temperature
Agricultural activities also contribute to rising temperatures and
greenhouse gas emissions.
Combustion of fossil fuels and emissions from industries and power
plants are also key reasons for global warming
Natural:-
Volcanic Eruption are major natural contributors of global warming
Because of the increasing release of gases and smoke.
When large-scale vegetation burns, resulting in a forest fire, stored
carbon is released, and greenhouse gas emissions rise.
IMPACT:-
As the heat waves, droughts, and floods associated with climate change become
more frequents, our communities suffer and death tolls rise. If we’re unable to
reduce our emissions, scientists believe that climate change could lead to the
deaths of more than 250,000 people around the globe every year and force 100
million people into poverty by 2030
Causes melting of polar ice caps and glaciers due to rise in
temperature giving way to extreme weather conditions.
Global warming destroys marine and coral life with the ocean’s
natural resources.
Sea level rising and significant flooding can harm human settlement
and result in mass destruction.
Higher carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures would
primarily influence ecosystems and animal life, resulting in the loss
of many species.
Due to global warming, insufficient rainfall that leads to
desertification can potentially cause a variety of diseases.
Steps to reduce
Switch to renewable sources of energy in our home
Driving electric cars instead of fuel consuming cars
We can reuse and recycle our daily things
Replacing old, failing appliances and using energy efficient
appliances
We can spread the awareness to our relatives and neighbours and
friends.
