Greenhouse Effect: Causes, Consequences and How It Affects Our Planet

The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that allows the Earth to maintain a temperature suitable for sustaining life. This process occurs when solar radiation reaches the earth's surface, warms it and is then re-emitted in the form of infrared radiation. However, certain gases in the atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrogen oxides (NxOy) and ozone (O3), trap some of this infrared radiation and re-radiate it in all directions, including back towards the earth's surface.

This effect is essential for life, as without it, the average temperature of the planet would be about -18°C, too cold to sustain most life forms today2. However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have increased the concentration of these GHGs in the atmosphere, intensifying the natural greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming.

It is important to differentiate the natural greenhouse effect, which is beneficial, from the anthropogenic increase in GHGs that is causing adverse global climate change.

sources

Juste, I. (2021, 7 January). Greenhouse effect: causes, consequences and solutions. EcologíaVerde. Retrieved from ecologiaverde.com.

keywords

greenhouse effect, global warming, global warming, greenhouse gases, climate change, environment

Comentarios

Entradas más populares de este blog

What to pack in your camping backpack: tips and list of essentials

Hi, if you want to camp outdoors, you should pack the following essentials in your rucksack: A tent suitable for the climate, terrain and number of people. It should be light, sturdy and easy to set up and take down. Sleeping bag A sleeping bag to keep you warm and comfortable during the night. It should be the right size and thickness for the temperature and your body. Yoga mat A mat that insulates you from the ground and provides soft support. It should be inflatable, foldable or rollable, and take up little space. A lamp or torch to light you up in the dark. It should have sufficient batteries or be rechargeable by solar or dynamo power. A first aid kit containing the basics for wounds, bites, burns or pain. It should include bandages, gauze, antiseptics, painkillers, antihistamines, tweezers, scissors and a thermometer. A survival kit containing what you need to orient yourself, communicate and protect yourself in case of an emergency. It should include a compass, whistle, lig...

Sustainable recommendations for implementation

The environment is the set of natural and artificial elements that surround us and that allow us to live and develop. Caring for the environment is everyone's responsibility, as our health, our quality of life and our future depend on it. Some tips for caring for the environment are: - Save water, reduce its consumption and reuse it. Water is a vital and scarce resource that we must preserve. We can save water by turning off taps when we are not using them, taking showers instead of baths, watering plants in cooler hours, using efficient household appliances, collecting rainwater, etc. - Switch off lights and electronic devices when not in use to save energy. Electricity is mainly produced from fossil fuels which emit greenhouse gases and contribute to climate change. We can save energy by using energy-saving light bulbs or LEDs, taking advantage of natural light, unplugging chargers when we don't need them, using the energy saving mode on computers, etc. - Commit to renewabl...

What is the decarbonised economy and why is it important?

The decarbonised economy is an economic model that seeks to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere, which are the main cause of climate change and global warming. The aim of the decarbonised economy is to achieve climate neutrality, i.e. CO2 emissions equal to or less than nature's absorption capacity. To achieve a decarbonised economy, an energy transition is required, involving the use of renewable, clean and efficient energy sources to replace fossil fuels such as oil, coal or natural gas. It also requires a transformation of productive sectors, such as industry, transport, agriculture and construction, to adopt resource saving, efficiency and recycling measures. The decarbonised economy is an opportunity for sustainable development, innovation, competitiveness and job creation. It also contributes to improving health, quality of life and environmental protection. The European Union and several countries around the world have committed to achieving the decarbo...

Planet Honest

Buscar este blog