1. The Green House
Effect and GLOBAL
WARMING
By Leisl Brewster, Megan Gonsalves and
Aleisha Anderson
2. What is the Green House effect?
• This is the process by which
certain gases in the atmosphere
absorb infrared radiation to
maintain the temperature of
the Earth.
• Examples of Green House gases
include:
3. How does the Green House Effect work?
1. Energy from the sun beats down on the earth.
2. The atmosphere reflects about 30% of solar radiation back into space.
3. The other 70% (mainly ultraviolet and visible light), penetrates the
atmosphere and is absorbed and re-emitted by the green house gases,
warming the earth.
Heat re-radiated back to earth
Green House gases absorb radiation
4. How else can the Green House
effect occur?
The term “greenhouse effect” does not only
exist due to naturally occurring green house
gases; but also those which are emitted as a
result of human activity.
Human
Activity
Green House Gases
Emitted
Use of
Fertilizers
Nitrogenous Oxides
Refrigerants
and aerosol
propellants
CFCs
Combustion of
fossil fuels
Carbon Dioxide
Nitrogenous Oxides
Sulphur Dioxide
Decomposing
Landfills
Methane
5. Using Carbon Dioxide as an example of
the enhanced GREEN HOUSE GAS EFFECT
Carbon Dioxide naturally
occurs due to:
• Decay of plants
• Volcanic Eruptions
• Waste product of aerobic
respiration in animals
NB: According to BBC, Carbon Dioxide is
responsible for 60% of the enhanced green
house effect.
But however, due to human
activity such as:
• Burning of fossil fuels for
transportation and electric
power generation in
homes, businesses and
factories.
• Deforestation for the
urbanization or agricultural
expansion.
The green house effect is enhanced
due to more Carbon Dioxide
present in the atmosphere due to
these activities, hence allowing
more of the sun’s radiation to be
absorbed and re-emitted. This has
caused the earth to become
excessively warmer.
6. What is Global
Warming?
This refers to the average increase
in the surface temperature of the
earth.
It is largely attributed to the
enhanced green house effect via
anthropogenic activity.
7. What are the effects of Global Warming?
Global Warming has wide-ranging effects such as:
1. Increased sea levels (e.g in the Maldives) – As
polar ice caps melt and fall into the sea, ocean
levels will rise. E.g Snow coverage has decreased
by 10% in the last 30 years in the Artic.
This can pose many other complications such as:
• Flooding of agricultural lowlands
• Saltwater intrusion into underground aquifers,
contaminating drinking water.
8. What are the effects of Global Warming?
2. Extreme Weather Conditions – As sea
surface temperature increases, this provides
optimum conditions for storm formation,
increasing the frequency and intensity of
natural disasters such as hurricanes. E.g
Super Storm Sandy
Further complications can arise as lives and
property are lost.
9. What are the effects of Global Warming?
3. Melting of Permafrost – This is permanently
frozen soil with high concentrations of methane
locked inside which one emitted, reiterates the
green house effect.
4. Threats to biodiversity – The extinction of biotic
species can occur.
