Premier Academy
IGCSE GEOGRAPHY
Digitized Notes Year 9
Week 6
The Greenhouse Effect
Resources/References: - Nelson Key Geography Foundations
David. W. and Tony. B
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Compiled By: - Jared Ogutu
The atmosphere is a very important layer of the earth. The atmosphere contains gases
which absorb energy from the sun and reradiate it hence warming the earth’s surface.
The warming of the atmosphere is very important since it makes our planet habitable.
Other planets lack the atmosphere hence they do not experience the greenhouse effect.
This makes them very cold and hence not habitable for humans and other organisms
Without these gases, the average temperature of the earth’s surface would be as low as -
18 degrees.
Without human interference, the greenhouse effect is therefore a very important
process since it warms the atmosphere and sustains life on Earth.
Definition of the greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from the planet's atmosphere
warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be without this
atmosphere.
It is a natural process that keeps the Earth warm by trapping heat from the sun in the
atmosphere.
This process is caused by greenhouse gases, which act like the glass in a greenhouse,
absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation from the sun
It occurs when the earth’s atmosphere heats the surface making it record higher
temperatures
The atmosphere therefore acts as a blanket over the surface of the earth, making it
warm
The greenhouse effect occurs with the help of greenhouse gases
The following are the most common greenhouse gases (GHGs)
1. Water vapor (the most important)
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Methane
4. Nitrous oxide
5. Chlorofluorocarbons
Activity
For each of the above-named gases:
a. identify the sources
b. research for ways in which their levels can be reduced in the atmosphere
Description of the process
The atmosphere allows the heat from the Sun (short-wave radiation) to pass through to
heat the Earth's surface.
The Earth's surface absorbs and then gives off the heat as long-wave radiation.
This heat is trapped by greenhouse gases (e.g. methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous
oxide) in the atmosphere, which radiate the heat back toward Earth.
This process heats up the Earth.
Or
The Sun’s short-wave solar radiation enters the atmosphere. The heat is reflected from
the surface of the Earth as long-wave radiation. The natural layer of greenhouse gases
allows some heat to be reflected out of the Earth’s atmosphere, but some heat is trapped
by CO2 and methane, keeping temperatures warm enough for life on Earth.
The greenhouse effect is a very important natural process since it sustains life on earth.
However, humans have interfered with the process by increasing the concentration of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is called the enhanced greenhouse effect
Consequently, the temperatures of the earth have risen beyond the expected levels. This
is called global warming. The global temperatures have been steadily rising over years
as a result of the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Humans have added to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere through the
following activities:
Burning fossil fuels, e.g. coal, gas and oil - these release carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere.
Deforestation - trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. If they are cut
down, there will be higher amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Dumping waste in landfills - when the waste decomposes it produces methane.
Agriculture - some agricultural practices lead to the release of nitrogen oxides into the
atmosphere.
