What is global warming ?
What is global warming ?
Earth absorbs about 75 % of the total solar energy reaching its surface thereby increasing its temperature. Some of this energy is radiated back into the atmosphere. The gases present in the atmosphere for example ozone, methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor and chlorofluorocarbons are called greenhouse gases, they absorb some heat thereby restricting the heat to escape our atmosphere. These gases add to the heating of the atmosphere and result in global warming.
In places where the temperature is low, we use glass covered areas known as a greenhouse to grow flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It is very interesting to know that even we live in a greenhouse, but the difference is that we are not covered by the glass but by the blanket of air called the atmosphere. It is this atmosphere which has kept the earth’s temperature constant for centuries and helped in the survival of life. Atmosphere traps the heat around the earth and keeps it warm. This is called as natural greenhouse effect because it maintains the temperature and sustains life.
In a greenhouse, the solar energy enters through the glass, warms the soil and atmosphere and helps in the growth of plants. In return, the soil and plants emit infrared radiation, which is partly absorbed and partly reflected by the glass. This mechanism traps the sun’s energy in the greenhouse. Similarly, we have carbon dioxide which absorbs heat (as they are transparent to sunlight but not to infrared heat radiation) and is the major contributor to the global warming.
Other than carbon dioxide we have methane, ozone, CFC’s and nitrous oxides forming a major part of greenhouse gases. These chemicals either occur naturally or are man-made. The use of these compounds should be reduced; otherwise, the average temperature of the earth will rise. This will result in melting of polar ice caps and flooding of the coastal areas. Increase in the global temperature also increases the incidence of diseases like dengue, malaria, yellow fever etc.
Earth absorbs about 75 % of the total solar energy reaching its surface thereby increasing its temperature. Some of this energy is radiated back into the atmosphere. The gases present in the atmosphere for example ozone, methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor and chlorofluorocarbons are called greenhouse gases, they absorb some heat thereby restricting the heat to escape our atmosphere. These gases add to the heating of the atmosphere and result in global warming.
In places where the temperature is low, we use glass covered areas known as a greenhouse to grow flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It is very interesting to know that even we live in a greenhouse, but the difference is that we are not covered by the glass but by the blanket of air called the atmosphere. It is this atmosphere which has kept the earth’s temperature constant for centuries and helped in the survival of life. Atmosphere traps the heat around the earth and keeps it warm. This is called as natural greenhouse effect because it maintains the temperature and sustains life.
In a greenhouse, the solar energy enters through the glass, warms the soil and atmosphere and helps in the growth of plants. In return, the soil and plants emit infrared radiation, which is partly absorbed and partly reflected by the glass. This mechanism traps the sun’s energy in the greenhouse. Similarly, we have carbon dioxide which absorbs heat (as they are transparent to sunlight but not to infrared heat radiation) and is the major contributor to the global warming.
Other than carbon dioxide we have methane, ozone, CFC’s and nitrous oxides forming a major part of greenhouse gases. These chemicals either occur naturally or are man-made. The use of these compounds should be reduced; otherwise, the average temperature of the earth will rise. This will result in melting of polar ice caps and flooding of the coastal areas. Increase in the global temperature also increases the incidence of diseases like dengue, malaria, yellow fever etc.
