GREEN HOUSE EFFECT

KEDAR SINGH
B.C.A. – IInd Semester – 31218

Green House Effect is a phenomenon in which the atmosphere of a planet traps radiation
emitted by sun, caused by gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapour, and methane that
allows incoming sunlight to pass through but retain heat radiated back from the planet's
surface. The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth. This
process maintains the Earth’s temperature at around 33°C warmer than it would otherwise
be, allowing life on Earth to exist.

The above given graphical presentation will help us understand the situation better.
Step 1: Solar radiation reaches the Earth's atmosphere - some of this is reflected back into
space.
Step 2: The rest of the sun's energy is absorbed by the land and the oceans, heating the
Earth.
Step 3: Heat radiates from Earth towards space.
Step 4: Some of this heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping the
Earth warm enough to sustain life.
Step 5: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and land clearing are
increasing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
Step 6: This is trapping extra heat, and causing the Earth's temperature to rise.

So, what really is the reason behind all these? The most important of these is the burning of
fossil fuels. Fossil fuels contain carbon, and when they are burnt, the carbon combines with
oxygen in the atmosphere to form carbon dioxide. Secondly, changes in land use are also
important sources of greenhouse gas emissions. For example, deforestation results in the
emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere that was previously stored on the Earth’s
surface in the form of trees and other vegetation, or locked up in soils.
What will happen if the green house effect continues to increase? The increase in
greenhouse effect will cause a more rapid global warming. It’ll result in the rise of the
average global temperature, in the melting of glaciers and land ice, rise in the sea and ocean
level and the increased frequency of extreme weather, like floods and hurricanes. Snow
covered areas might melt. Normally snow covered areas reflect the heat back out to space,
but, if the snow melts, the darker ground underneath will reveal and will absorb more
warmth.

But, we can reduce the green house effects by following steps like,
(a) Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
(b) Adding insulation to walls and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and
windows can lower heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy
need to heat and cool home.
(c) Buy Energy efficient products.
(d) Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights before leaving a room,
and using only as less as needed. And remember to turn off television, stereo and computer
when not in use.
(e) Share information about recycling and energy conservation with friends, neighbours and
co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and
policies that are good for the environment.
(f) Plant a Tree as a single tree absorbs approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its
lifetime.

These steps will take us a long way towards reducing our energy use. Less energy use will
less dependence on the fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global
warming.

SAVE THE EARTH, PLANT A TREE

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