Untitled Essay, Research Paper

Greenhouse Effect

When one starts a car or burns wood, the last thought on their mind is

the consequences to these actions. Unfortunately, the daily dangers to earth are not

widely know. Due to the constant change of society, this planet must cope with various

problems. One of the most important ecological structures is the ozone layer. The same

shield that protects us from the sun’s deadly radiation, can also act as a blanket

engulfing us in heat. This situation is know as the greenhouse effect. What is the

greenhouse effect, what causes it, and what can be done to control it?

The problem of global warming has been around for some time now. Though not until recently

has it become a priority. So important, that figures such as Vice President Al Gore have

spoken out. Many are realizing that the greenhouse effect is not something to be put

aside, yet rather something to be worked on and studied. "The greenhouse effect

displays that nature is not immune to our presence" (Kralijic, 1992). Ways must be

found to lessen the threat of this growing crisis. If this effect were to continue and

grow, the earth’s population would be exposed to serious threats.

Carbon dioxide is essential for plants who use it for photosynthesis, yet too much can

lead to serious threats. The problem lies in the disruption of

Greenhouse Effect 3the balance between how much carbon dioxide plants intake, and what our population

produces. If this natural filtering process is unbalanced, the atmosphere will receive too

much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Once these gases form in the atmosphere,

they act as barriers trapping in heat and warming the earth.

This process is not new. In fact, without the greenhouse effect, the average surface

temperature of the earth would be about 59 Fahrenheit degrees lower than it is today.

"Long before civilization intervened , the thin blanket of gases that surround the

earth was efficiently trapping a tiny portion of the sun’s heat and keeping it near

the surface to warm up the air just enough to prevent temperatures from plunging to frigid

extremes every night- which, of course, is exactly what happens on the moon and on planets

like Mars that have very thin atmospheres" (Gore, 1992).

The greenhouse effect received its name because the atmosphere of the earth acts much like

the glass roof on a greenhouse. Sunlight enters the greenhouse through the glass as it

heats up the plants. Then, the warmth is trapped as the glass slows the withdraw of heat.

Similarly, the earth’s atmosphere lets most of the sun’s light enter and heat

the surface. The earth

Greenhouse Effect 4then sends this energy, called Infrared Radiation, back into the atmosphere (showed in the

diagram on page 7). This is when the actual effect takes place. Not all of the Infrared

Radiation is sent freely into space. Certain gases in the atmosphere absorb it and send it

back toward earth. Such gases are Carbon Dioxide, Ozone, and water vapor. As stated

earlier, this process becoming more important. Due to the burning of fossil fuels such as

coal, oil, and natural gas, carbon dioxide is increasing thus increasing the amplitude of

the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect would have disastrous on this planet’s population.

"Climate changes will threaten agriculture and our food supply, probably eliminating

the Great Plains or prairies of North America as a region in which crops may be grown, for

example. Also, melting of parts of the Antarctic ice sheet will cause flooding of coastal

cities such as London , New York, Beijing, Amsterdam, St. John’s, Halifax, Vancouver

, even Montreal and of entire countries, such as Bangladesh" (Johnson, 1990). The

greenhouse effect is not limited to certain countries or states. The entire world will

suffer if it is allowed to grow. "Some scientists think that from the late

1990’s to the late 2000’s the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Greenhouse Effect 5could double. If this doubling were to occur, it would intensify the greenhouse effect and

result in an increase of 2.7 to 11 Fahrenheit degrees (1.5 to 6 Celsius degrees) in the

earth’s average temperature" (Gille, 1988). The results are real and quite

intense. The outlook is not good.

Something must be done quickly to slow the growth of the greenhouse effect. It is not a

hopeless situation. "Reverse your oxygen debt. The less fuel you burn and the more

oxygen-producing plants you grow, the more you will add oxygen to the atmosphere and lower

your output of greenhouse gases" (British Columbia Medical Association, 1990). Solar

power also plays a part in this. Although just recently taking hold, solar power could

greatly lessen the output of the greenhouse gases as could hydroelectric power could.

Besides different power sources, many companies are producing environment safe products

and even air cleaners. It may be a nuisance, but it is possible to lessen the greenhouse

effect.

The issue of the greenhouse effect is not seriously taken by many people. If it

doesn’t jump out in front of their faces or directly and immediately concern them,

they pay no attention. If we do not take action,

Greenhouse Effect 6the earth may become Venus’s exact "twin-planet", covered in a thick cloud

of sulfuric acid and sulfur. It is not a pretty outlook to say the least. Any little thing

can help, and, if we all take action, we can slow the greenhouse effect down to the point

where it won’t be a serious threat for many, many years.

Greenhouse Effect 7

DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

University of Maryland College Park

Greenhouse Effect 8References

Gille, J. (1988). Greenhouse effect. World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: Scott Fetzer

company.Gorder, C. (1991). Green Earth Resource Guide. Tempe, AZ: Blue Bird Publishing.Gore, A. (1992). Earth in the Balance. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.Hammond, Scully, Mast, & Powell. (1991). Environmental Almanac. Boston, MA: Houghton

Mifflin Company.Johnson, G. (1990). Environmental Tips on how you can save this planet. Calgary, Alberta:

Detselig Enterprises.Kralijic, M. (1992). The Greenhouse Effect. New York, NY: The H.W. Wilson Company.