GREEN HOUSE EFFECT

and global warming

VYSHNAVI P V
 GREEN HOUSE EFFECT
A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant within the thermal infrared range.

The primary greenhouse gases in earths atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane,
Ozone, N2O, etc.

The word greenhouse hold 2 meanings.

Natural and manmade greenhouse effect.

Progressive warming up of the Earth’s surface due to the blanketing effect of manmade CO 2 in the
atmosphere.

Visible sunlight passes through the glass and heats up the soil and warms the plants.

The warm soil emits radiation in longer wavelengths particularly in the infrared. Because the glass
is opaque to these wavelength.

CO2 and water vapour acts as green house gases by allowing visible light to reach the surface and
absorbs and reflects back the longwave outgoing terrestrial radiation mainly Infrared rays back to
Earth’s surface.
Halogenated gases such as CFC’s are also green house gases because they
absorb longwave terrestrial radiations and thus helps in enhancing the
CO2 greenhouse effect.

Net effect will be the increase in the temperature of the Earth’s surface
and the lower atmosphere.
 NATURAL GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Made from the heat radiated from the sun.

Greenhouse gases are naturally from the presence of atmosphere.

Sunlight goes through the atmosphere warming Earth in a cycle.

Cycle continues through the atmosphere as the gases absorb energy at the
same time while the leftovers go to space.

Some energy gets trapped in the Earth which makes much warmer and
comfortable.
 MAN-MADE EFFECT
The amount of gases increase in the atmosphere the stability of the
greenhouse gases change causing effects on the whole world.

Caused by burning fossil fuels, coal, oil, natural gases, cutting and burning
trees producing carbon dioxide.

Greenhouse gases traps heat and makes Earth warmer and creates global
warming.
 CAUSES OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Natural causes of greenhouse effect are the releasing of gases like nitrous
oxide, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and water vapour.

Man-made causes are erosion, burning of fossil fuels, oil, coal and
gas(used mainly in industries), emission of gases like CFC’s, burning of
gasoline, oil and coal. Population growth is also an indirect contributor.
MAJOR SOURCES OF GREENHOUSE GASES
1. Carbon dioxide - released by burning fossil fuels.

1] electric power stations (man induced CO2)

2] numerous factories

3] transport sector (railways)

4] deforestation and burning of fire woods.

2. Minor sources produce CFC , ozone, methane and nitrous oxide

 WATER VAPOUR
 Accounts for the largest percentage of the
green house effect.

 Produced by the Sun’s heat emissions.

 Causes about 2/3rd of the greenhouse effect.

 Higher temperature = more water vapour

(feedback loop)

 The atmospheric concentration of vapour is

highly variable and depends largely on
temperature from less than 0.01% in extreme
cold region up to 3% by mass in saturated air.
 CARBON DIOXIDE
Man made and naturally produced.

The high concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere are primarily related to

the pattern of energy transfer and uses the world over.

The atmospheric content of CO2 increased from the pre-industrial

level(280-290p.p.m){1860} to 350-360p.p.m{1988}

TRENDS OF CONSUMPTION OF FOSSIL FUELS AND EMISSION OF CO2

1. According to Oak ridge national laboratory, based on the analysis of the

37 year time series of emission ( emission by burning of fossil fuels
where dominated by few developed and highly industrialised countries
by 1950.the emission from developing countries towards the total
emission upto 1950 was negligible.
2. After 36 years from the 1950 base, situation changed, the emission from highly
industrialised area and developed area decreased while the developing countries began
to contribute more.{China, India and Japan had created great variations.}

3. Though the relative contributions of CO2 from the combustion of hydrocarbons by

developed and highly industrialised nations have declined because of the increase in
emission from the developing nations but the total emissions based on per capita basis
are still dominated by the developed nations. The USA followed by Russia are still the
major culprits.

4. On a regional basis of the emission of CO2 it is clear that the total emissions are steadily
increasing in China, most of Asia and Latin America.(the IPCC {inter governmental panel
on climate change} constituted by the UNEP {united nations environment programme}
and WMO {world meteorological organisation} in 1988 has been assigned the main task
on the study of climate change and reporting the effects of greenhouse gases on the Earth
after every 4 years.
 Concentration in
compound formula atmosphere(ppm) Contribution(%)

Water vapor and clouds H2O 10–50,000 36–72%  

Carbon dioxide CO2 ~400 9–26%

Methane CH4 ~1.8 4–9%  

Ozone O3 2–8 3–7%  

 METHANE
Produced from the biodegradation of organic matter.

Animal excreta and paddy fields are also major source in methane
production.
 NITROUS OXIDE
• The 3rd most significant greenhouse gas.

• Contributes almost 6% to total radioactive forcing by long

lived greenhouse gases.

• It stays in the atmosphere almost 114 years.

• Nitrous oxide is emitted to the atmosphere from both

natural(60%) and anthropogenic sources(40%).

• It is naturally present in the atmosphere as a part of nitrogen

cycle.

• Human activities such as agriculture, fossil fuel combustion,

waste water management and industrial processes are
increasing the amount of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere.
GLOBAL WARMING
 GLOBAL WARMING
• Global Warming is often considered as an effect of Climate
change.

• Global Warming is the rapid increase in the temperature of

the Earth’s environment that is causing many life-threatening
issues to arise.

• Rapid industrialization, increase in the population growth and

pollution are causing a rise in Global Warming.

• Global Warming refers to the increase in the average

temperature of the earth's surface during the last century.

• One of the reasons why Global Warming is dangerous is

because it disturbs the overall ecology of the planet. This
results in floods, famine, cyclones and other issues.
• On average, the world’s temperature is about 1.5°C higher
than during the start of the industrial revolution in the late
1700s. This number is only increasing.

• Many parts of the world face far more severe changes in

temperature that affect the planet’s overall health.

• The most evident causes of Global Warming are

industrialization, urbanization, deforestation, and
sophisticated human activities.

• These human activities have led to an increase in the

emission of Greenhouse Gases, including CO₂, Nitrous Oxide,
Methane, and others.
 CAUSES
• A variety of reasons causes Global Warming. Some of which can
be controlled personally by individuals but others are only
expected to be solved by communities and the world leaders
and activists at the global level.

• the main four reasons for Global Warming, according to recent

studies, are:

1. Greenhouse gases

2. Deforestation

3. Pollution

4. Per capita carbon emissions

• One of the reasons behind Global Warming is the extreme
release of greenhouse gases stuck on the earth surface,
resulting in the temperature increase.

• Similarly, volcanoes are also leading to Global Warming

because they spew too much CO₂ in the air.
 EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING
• Various parts of the environment, both flora and fauna, are directly
adversely affected by the damages caused by Global Warming.

• Wildlife being in danger is ultimately a serious threat to the survival of

humanity as we know it and its future.

• Glacier retreat and arctic shrinkage are the two common phenomena
seen.

• Glaciers are melting in a fast way. These are pure examples of climate
change.

• Rise in sea level is another significant effect of Global Warming. This sea-
level rise is leading to floods in low-lying areas.

• Extreme weather conditions are witnessed in many countries. Unseasonal

rainfall, extreme heat and cold, wildfires and others are common every
year. The number of these cases is increasing. This will indeed imbalance
the ecosystem bringing the result of the extinction of species.
• Similarly, marine life is also widely getting affected due to the
increase in Global Warming. This is resulting in the death of
marine species and other issues.

• Moreover, changes are expected in coral reefs, which are

going to face the end in coming years.

• These effects will take a steep rise in coming years, bringing

the expansion of species to a halt.

• Moreover, humans too will witness the negative impact of

Global Warming in the end.

• Glacier melting, lesser summer stream flows, genus

extinction and rise in number of diseases.

• It is extending the distribution of mosquitoes due to the

increase in humidity levels and their frequent growth in
warmer atmosphere.
 KYOTO PROTOCOL

• It is aimed to stabilize greenhouse

gas concentration to prevent a
“dangerous anthropogenic
interference”
• As in November 2009, 187 states
had signed and rectified the
protocol.