what is greenhouse effect?

Question

what you mean by melting of polar ice caps?

Answer 1

The greenhouse effect is when the Sun's radiant energy is able to penetrate the Earth's atmosphere to reach the surface, but infrared radiation from the surface (reflected from the Sun) is absorbed by the atmosphere. In other words, not all the energy that gets in can get back out. This is like a greenhouse, which is hotter than the surrounding environment due to a similar property of the glass it is made from. Without the greenhouse effect, the night side of the Earth would be freezing cold until morning, because the Earth wouldn't be able to hold the Sun's energy when not directly exposed to it. However, an increased greenhouse effect, due to an increase in greenhouse gases (the gases that absorb infrared radiation) in the atmosphere, can increase the Earth's temperature, and many scientists believe this is the cause of observed global warming. The melting of the polar ice caps means that ice near the North and South Poles is melting due to global warming. If the ice is on land (Antarctica, Greenland, Siberia, etc.) rather than in the sea (the Arctic or Southern Ocean), the melting then results in a raising of sea level, which some day may flood islands and coastal regions.

Answer 2

When certain compounds (such as Carbon Dioxide) build up
in the atmosphere, they cause the Earth to retain more heat
coming in from sun light then radiates off into space.

The net effect of this is that the average temperature across the
planet increases. If the average temperature increases even
a degree or two, it can completely change the dynamics of the
water system. All of those huge ice flows that stay ice because
they were in -1"C (30"F) all of a sudden melt because they are
now in 1"C (34"F). That water adds to the water level and
submerges lots of oceanfront property.

More importantly, it uncovers vast tracts of land where carbon
is trapped (such as peat bogs). That CO2 is released and
increases the effect, so more things melt, so more CO2 is
exposed, so ...

There is a growing body of evidence that once we have
exceeded a CO2 threshhold, the CO2 will increase in our
atmosphere faster than we can possibly remove it. Many
believe we are at that point now. That is, even if humanity
stopped releasing any CO2 (ok everyone, hold your breath!),
the ocean levels will continue to rise and the planet will
continue to retain heat.

Certainly, our economies are not capable of going to
absolutely no CO2 emissions, but it may be that we can
change things so that the sum of our CO2 emissions and
mother nature's CO2 emissions is less than that which
causes the greenhouse effect.

I doubt it.

The great debate is not whether or not the average
temperature is increasing. The vast majority of credible
data has it increasing on average everywhere on the planet.

The great debate is over whether or not Humanity is causing
it, and therefore if humanity can prevent it. If this is just some
massive temperature swing that would be happening whether
or not we were here, it makes it considerably less obvious what
to do to stop it.

Answer 3

What is the Greenhouse Effect?



The Greenhouse Effect is an extremely vital process where INFRARED (IR) rays from the sun come into the Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere then traps these rays after they have come in (like the glass in a greenhouse) keeping the Earth warm and habitable. CO2 (carbon dioxide), N2O(nitrous oxide), and CH4(methane) are destroying the atmosphere, causing more INFRARED (IR) rays to reflect on Earth.


The Problem with the Greenhouse Effect

Having more infrared rays reflected on Earth makes the Earth warmer. As temperatures on Earth rise, so does the ocean water level and the ice caps begin to melt. The worst possible scenario with this problem would be mass flooding in low lying areas of the Earth including many islands in the ocean which would basically disappear, most of Florida would be underwater, all coastline cities, and river deltas such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Egypt, Louisiana and other parts of the U.S. It will also cause more tropical storms, hurricanes, extreme temperatures and droughts.


Causes of the Greenhouse Effect


The main causes of the Greenhouse Effect are gases called CO2(carbon dioxide), N2O(nitrous oxide), and CH4(methane). Small amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air helps keep heat in the Earth in the vital process of the Greenhouse Effect. As car exhausts and industries continue to shoot CO2 in the air, the amount of CO2 in the will increase. This causes more heat to be kept, increasing the Earth’s temperature. Methane and Nitrous Oxide has the same effects as CO2, but they have a less harmful effect on the Greenhouse Effect.

Answer 4

The greenhouse effect, first discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824, and first investigated quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896, is the process in which the absorption of infrared radiation by an atmosphere warms a planet. Without these greenhouse gases, the Earth's surface would be up to 30 °C cooler. The name comes from an incorrect analogy with the way in which greenhouses are heated by the sun in order to facilitate plant growth. In addition to the Earth, Mars, Venus and other celestial bodies with atmospheres (such as Titan) have greenhouse effects.

In common parlance, the term "greenhouse effect" may be used to refer either to the natural greenhouse effect, due to naturally occurring greenhouse gases, or to the enhanced (anthropogenic) greenhouse effect, which results from gases emitted as a result of human activities (see also global warming, scientific opinion on climate change and attribution of recent climate change).

You could get more information from the link below...

Answer 5

is the process in which the absorption of infrared radiation by an atmosphere warms a planet. Without these greenhouse gases, the Earth's surface would be up to 30 °C cooler

Answer 6

a upward thrust interior the organic potential of the greenhouse result, further approximately by potential of human events like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, wherein greenhouse gases which includes carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons and nitrous oxide are being released into the ambience at a a approaches greater suitable fee than might ensue by way of organic techniques and consequently their concentrations are increasing. additionally pronounced as anthropogenic greenhouse result or climate substitute.

Answer 7

Saw the brief description in 12 th std physics book , i think it wil help u

Answer 8

c dis
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html
u can also take help from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect
http://www.crystalinks.com/greenhouseffect.html
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html
http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_3_1.htm
thats what i cud prvide



polar ice caps r actually melting
http://armageddononline.tripod.com/icecaps.htm
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1176980,00.html
http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/qthinice.asp
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question473.htm

Answer 9

search on google.com and national geographic's website.