THE

GREENHOUSE
EFFECT
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
What is Greenhouse Effect?
Phenomenon of an increase in the
temperature of the Earths atmosphere.
How this happened?
This is due to the heat that is absorbed and
trapped in the Earths atmosphere by certain
gases (greenhouse gases); ex: CO2 ,
methane, chlorofluorocarbon, nitrogen oxide.
These greenhouse gases, especially CO, trap
and absorb heat in the atmosphere, causing a
rise in the temperature of the atmosphere.
The layer of gas act as an insulator to prevent
the heat energy from being transmitted to space.
As a result, the Earths temperature increases
causing global warming.
The main cause of the greenhouse effect is due
to the high levels of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere.

Emission of carbon dioxide from human activities
have increased tremendously, causing the
greenhouse effect to occur worldwide
The greenhouse effect causes the atmospheric
temperature throughout the world to increase.
Hence, the whole Earths temperature is
increased and the effect is called global
warming.

Human activities that increase the concentration
of CO2 in the atmosphere
Burning of fuels in factories
Forest fires
Deforestation
Open burning of rubbish
Coal-fueled power stations
Motor vehicles
Use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
The suns radiation to the Earth penetrates through
the atmosphere as solar radiation and ultraviolet
radiation.
About 30% of the suns radiation is reflected back as
high energy into space by the atmospheric layer while
70% will penetrate through the atmosphere.
About half of the 70% of the suns radiation that
penetrates the atmosphere, is changed to heat
energy.
Most of the energy that reaches the Earths surface is
absorbed into the Earth.
Part of the heat energy that reaches the Earths
surface is absorbed into the Earth.
Most of the infrared radiation are absorbed by carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The heat energy in the atmosphere is also absorbed
by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
As a result, the heat energy is trapped in the lower
atmospheric level, causing the Earths temperature to
increase.
The effect is similar to that occurring in a greenhouse
where the suns similar to that occurring in a
greenhouse where the suns radiation and ultraviolet
radiation that penetrate the glass panels of the
greenhouse are not totally reflected back to the
atmosphere.
Some of these radiations are trapped in the
greenhouse as heat energy.
The overall effect is that the average temperature of
the Earth and its atmosphere is increased resulting in
the greenhouse effect.

Consequences of the greenhouse
effect
1. The rise in sea level
a) Caused by the melting of polar ice caps
b) Low-lying areas around the sea are further lowered
resulting in floods
2. Climatic change
a) The high atmospheric temperature speeds up the rate of
evaporation, causing drought and sudden floods
b) Changes in wind direction and sea current cause natural
disasters such as typhoons and hurricanes to occur more
frequently.

3. Agricultural productivity
a) Productivity of crops and livestock is reduced due to
drought (lack of water) and the extremely high
temperature.
b) In temperate countries, productivity of crops will increase
during winter because of the moderately higher
temperature enable the crops to photosynthesise
efficiently.

Today, as level of CO2 and greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere continue to rise, the temperature of
the Earth and its atmosphere is expected to
increase by 1.5 C to 4.5 C in the year 2030.
THINNING OF
OZONE LAYER
Thinning of Ozone Layer, O3
Ozone is actually a gas that
contains three oxygen atoms.
The ozone layer is located at the
atmospheric layer called the
stratosphere which is 20-50 km away from the
Earths surface.
The ozone Layer acts an absorbance to the harmful
ultraviolet rays (UV rays) and prevents them from
reaching the surface of the Earth.
Today, the ozone layer is becoming thinner
because of the destruction of the ozone gas.
It was found that the depletion of the ozone layer
occurred over both Artic and Antartic, creating
ozone holes. The ozone hole in the Antartic is
found to be as big as the continent of U.S.A.
The depletion of ozone is caused by the
increasing use of chlorofluorocarbons which can
break down and destroy ozone molecules into
other elements.

Other pollutants such as halons, chlorine gas and
nitrogen oxides can also destroy the ozone.
The main cause of ozone depletion is the use of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFC).
CFC are widely used as a cooling agent in
refrigerators and air-conditioners, in aerosol
sprays, polystyrene food container, and rubber
foams for making cushions, pillows and
mattresses.

The Process of Ozone Depletion by
CFC
Ultraviolet radiation reacts with CFCs by breaking
the chlorine atom bond in the CFCs.
A chlorine atom is released. The highly reactive
chlorine atom destroys the ozone by reacting with
the ozone to produce chlorine monoxide and
oxygen molecules.
Free oxygen atoms in the atmosphere will break
the chlorine monoxide bond. As a result, a
chlorine atom is released and this chlorine atom
can destroy more ozone molecules.
Effects of the Thinning of the Ozone
Layer
On the environment
1. Increases the temperature of the environment
(which causes the greenhouse effect).
2. Changes in the climate and weather patterns.
3. Changes in wind direction.
On plants
1. The rate of photosynthesis decreases due to the
destruction of the stomata and chlorophyll in the
leaves.
2. Disturbs the ecological balance by destroying
aquatic organisms such as planktons.








On human health
1. Causes skin cancer (melanoma).
2. Damages eyesight and causes cataract.
3. Weakens the human immune system.


Skin cancer (melanoma)
Impact of the Thinning of the Ozone Layer
and Global Warming on the Ecosystem
The thinning of the ozone layer allows ultraviolet
radiation to reach the Earths surface and destroy the
planktons in the food chain. This upsets the balance
in the ecosystem and consequently threatens the
other ecosystems in the water.
Ultraviolet radiation also reduces the number of
stomata and amount of chlorophyll in the leaves.
Hence, green plants which are the producers in a
food chain cannot carry out photosynthesis efficiently.
The plants will die and the biotic components in the
ecosystem are threatened.
Global warming causes the atmosphere to be very hot,
resulting in drought and changes in the climate. This
affects the a biotic components in the ecosystem
which consequently affects the distribution and
population of the biotic components. As a result, the
balance of various ecosystems on Earth in not
equilibrium.