Question

Describe the Greenhouse Effect in your own words.

Answer 1

Hint: On a global scale, the climate and temperatures rise on a steady year-on-year basis. Two phenomenons contribute to this rise in temperatures - Global warming and the greenhouse effect.

Complete step by step solution:
Climate change is mainly due to pollution, overpopulation, and the general disregard of the human race towards the environment. The earth is surrounded by a shield of air known as the atmosphere.The infrared radiations that are coming from the sun are trapped by the gases in the atmosphere. This generates heat on the surface of the earth.But, if we look at the ideal scenario, this effect would cause the temperature on the earth to be around ${15}^{0}C$. Therefore, without such a phenomenon, life could not sustain on earth.
This phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect and the gases which trap the solar radiations are known as greenhouse gases.

But, day by day, the emission of these greenhouse gases is increasing multifold over the last few centuries due to rapid industrialization and rising pollution.Due to this more radiation is getting trapped in the earth's atmosphere. And as a result, the temperature of the earth's surface is gradually rising.

Let us look at the anthropogenic part of this effect which is caused by the activities of man.
i) The burning of fossil fuels in the industries, vehicles, factories, etc for energy and power causes an immense increase in the emission of the harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, sulphides, carbon monoxide, etc and hence multiplies the greenhouse effect which leads to a rise in temperature.
ii) Other activities like deforestation, excessive urbanization, harmful agricultural practices, etc also lead to the release of these harmful gases. CFCs are also a harmful element that causes the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect affects the environment in a very bad way.
a) Due to this effect, the temperature of the oceans has risen. They have absorbed a lot of heat.
b) The glaciers and ice sheets have started melting at thrice the rate they were melting before.
c) This continuous rise in temperature due to the greenhouse effect can definitely lead to major environmental problems.

Note: The proper maintenance of the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is very important. Too little of the greenhouse gases make the earth too cold and too much of the greenhouse gases make the earth too hot. In both cases, it is difficult to sustain life on earth.