What is the "GreenHouse Effect", & What country is the main contributor to Greenhouse gases?

Answer 1

Greenhouse gases naturally blanket the Earth and keep it about 33 degrees Celsius warmer than it would be without these gases in the atmosphere. This is called the �Greenhouse Effect�. Over the past century, the Earth has increased in temperature by about .5 degrees Celsius and many scientists believe this is because of an increase in concentration of the main greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorocarbons. People are now calling this climate change over the past century the beginning of �Global Warming.� Fears are that if people keep producing such gases at increasing rates, the results will be negative in nature, such as more severe floods and droughts, increasing prevalence of insects, sea levels rising, and Earth's precipitation may be redistributed. These changes to the environment will most likely cause negative effects on society, such as lower health and decreasing economic development. However, some scientists argue that the global warming we are experiencing now is a natural phenomenon, and is part of Earth's natural cycle. Presently, nobody can prove if either theory is correct, but one thing is certain; the world has been emitting greenhouse gases at extremely high rates and has shown only small signs of reducing emissions until the last few years. After the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the world has finally taken the first step in reducing emissions.
The Greenhouse Effect
The "greenhouse effect" is the heating of the Earth due to the presence of greenhouse gases. It is named this way because of a similar effect produced by the glass panes of a greenhouse. Shorter-wavelength solar radiation from the sun passes through Earth's atmosphere, then is absorbed by the surface of the Earth, causing it to warm. Part of the absorbed energy is then reradiated back to the atmosphere as long wave infared radiation. Little of this long wave radiation escapes back into space; the radiation cannot pass through the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The greenhouse gases selectively transmit the infared waves, trapping some and allowing some to pass through into space. The greenhouse gases absorb these waves and reemits the waves downward, causing the lower atmosphere to warm.

Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a colorless, odorless non-flammable gas and is the most prominent Greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere. It is recycled through the atmosphere by the process photosynthesis, which makes human life possible. Photosynthesis is the process of green plants and other organisms transforming light energy into chemical energy. Light Energy is trapped and used to convert carbon dioxide, water, and other minerals into oxygen and energy rich organic compounds. (Encyclopaedia Britannica Volume 25) Carbon Dioxide is emitted into the air as humans exhale, burn fossil fuels for energy, and deforest the planet. Every year humans add over 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by these processes, and it is up thirty percent since 1750 .
An isolated test at Mauna Loa in Hawaii revealed more than a 12% (316 ppm in 1959 to 360 ppm in 1996) increase in mean annual concentration of carbon dioxide. Mauna Loa, located in Hawaii, is the worlds largest volcano at 40,000 cubic km and 4,170 meters above sea level. (Encyclopedia Britannica Volume 27) . Ice core samples have also shown a dramatic increase in carbon dioxide levels. Drilling deep into glaciers and polar ice caps and taking out samples of ice, then melting the ice and capturing the gas has shown an increase in carbon dioxide concentrations over the past 100 years. Ice core samples are essentially "drilling through time", because the deeper the ice is, the older the ice is.
In 1996, carbon dioxide world emissions increased by 2.8%. The U.S. reported a 3.3% increase in CO2
concentrations. The U.S. continues to emit more than any other country in the world, accounting for 25% of all emissions. The European Union had an increase of 2.2%, much larger than a small increase of 1.1% in 1995. Eastern Europe had a decreasing rate of -2.4%. China's increase in 1996 was 4.7%
Fossil Fuels were created chiefly by the decay of plants from millions of years ago. We use coal, oil and natural gas to generate electricity, heat our homes, power our factories and run our cars. These fossil fuels contain carbon, and when they are burned, they combine with oxygen, forming carbon dioxide. The two atoms of oxygen add to the total weight. The World Energy Council reported that global carbon dioxide emissions from buring fossil fuels rose 12% between 1990 and 1995. The increase from developing countries was three times that from developed countries. Middle East carbon dioxide emissions from burning of fossil fuels increased 35%, Africa increased 12%, and Eastern Europe increased rates by 75% from 1990-1995.
Deforestation is another main producer of carbon dioxide. The causes of deforestation are logging for lumber, pulpwood, and fuel wood. Also contributing to deforestation are clearing new land for farming and pastures used for animals such as cows. Forests and wooded areas are natural carbon sinks. This means that as trees absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen, carbon is being put into trees. This process occurs naturally by photosynthesis, which occurs less and less as we cut and burn down trees. As the abundance of trees declines, less carbon dioxide can be recycled. As we burn them down, carbon is released into the air and the carbon bonds with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, adding to the greenhouse effect. About 860 acres, the size of Central Park in New York, is destroyed every 15 minutes in the tropics.
Methane
Methane is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas. It is formed when plants decay and where there is very little air. It is often called swamp gas because it is abundant around water and swamps. Bacteria that breakdown organic matter in wetlands and bacteria that are found in cows, sheep, goats, buffalo, termites, and camels produce methane naturally. Since 1750, methane has doubled, and could double again by 2050. Each year we add 350-500 million tons of methane to the air by raising livestock, coal mining, drilling for oil and natural gas, rice cultivation, and garbage sitting in
Livestock such as cows, sheep, goats, camels, buffaloes, and termites release methane as well. Bacteria in the gut of the animal break down food and convert some of it to methane. When these animals belch, methane is released. In one day, a cow can emit ½ pound of methane into the air. Imagine 1.3 billion cattle each burping methane several times per minute!
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is another colorless greenhouse gas, however, it has a sweet odor . It is primarily used as an anesthetic because it deadens pain and for this characteristic is called �laughing gas.� This gas is released naturally from oceans and by bacteria in soils. Nitrous oxide gas risen by more than 15% since 1750. Each year we add 7-13 million tons into the atmosphere by using nitrogen based fertilizers, disposing of human and animal waste in sewage treatment plants, automobile exhaust, and other sources not yet identified. It is important to reduce emissions because the nitrous oxide we release today will still be trapped in the atmosphere 100 years from now.
Nitrogen based fertilizer use has doubled in the past 15 years. These fertilizers provide nutrients for crops; however, when they breakdown in the soil, nitrous oxide is released into the atmosphere. In automobiles, nitrous oxide is released at a much lower rate than carbon dioxide, because there is more carbon in gasoline than nitrogen.
Fluorocarbons
Fluorocarbons is a general term for any group of synthetic organic compounds that contain fluorine and carbon. Many of these compounds, such as chlorofluorocarbons(CFC�s), can be easily converted from gas to liquid or liquid to gas. Because of these properties, CFC�s can be used in aerosol cans, refrigerators, and air conditioners. Studies in the 1970�s showed that when CFC�s are emitted into the atmosphere, they break down molecules in the Earth's ozone layer (World Book). Since then, the use of CFC�s has significantly decreased and they are banned from production in the United States.
The substitute for CFC�s are hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's). HFC�s do not harm or breakdown the ozone molecule, but they do trap heat in the atmosphere, making it a greenhouse gas, aiding in global warming. HFC�s are used in air conditioners and refrigerators. The way to reduce emissions of this gas is to be sure that in both devices the coolant is recycled and all leaks are properly fixed . Also, before throwing the appliances away, be sure to recover the coolant in each.
Global Warming is Here

Naturally, if there are more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, this greenhouse effect will be more significant and raise the temperature of Earth more than if humans didn't emit as much greenhouse gases. Peter Tans, a physicist with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Lab says, �There is no doubt that both land and ocean surface temperatures have gone up significantly in the last 100 years or so.� This statement supports the trend of global warming, but does not acknowledge the source. The director of NOAA�s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab at Princeton, Jerry Malhan, says, �The Earths surface temperature has warmed about one degree Fahrenheit in the last 100 years, and there is no credible hypothesis for this, other than the net effect of greenhouse gases.
Jerry Malhan offers a quote supporting the theory of global warming and also states that it is directly related to the increase of greenhouse gases. �The planet is heating up and the evidence suggests that human activities are having a significant impact,� Jane Lubchence Jane was the past President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, who briefed President Clinton on global warming in July, 1997. The world's leading authority on global warming, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is a United Nations sponsored organization made up of 2500 scientists from around the world. They have concluded by consensus that "The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate." They project that global warming will have severe impacts on human health, natural ecosystems, agriculture, and coastal communities.
This evidence supports the common belief that Global Warming is occurring due to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and HFC�s.

Effects of Global Warming on Environment

There are many environmental problems coming from the increase concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere. As Jeff Rubin of ABC NEWS reported, �Several signs indicate that we've begun changing Earth's climate: increased water vapor in the atmosphere, glaciers and polar ice caps appear to be melting, floods and droughts are becoming more severe, and sea levels have risen, on average, between 4 and 10 inches since 1990.� Experts concur, �We are already beginning to see this (global warming) taking place - a lot more flooding, a lot more droughts,� Jane Lubchenco said. Jerry Malham added, �By 2100, we might get a 2 foot sea level rise, but the catch is, levels might continue to rise 2 or 3 feet per century, for 1000 years.�(www.abcnews.com/sections/us/global106.html) These rises in sea level can increase the salinity of freshwater throughout the world, and cause coastal lands to be washed under the ocean. Warmer water and increased humidity may encourage tropical cyclones, and changing wave patterns could produce more tidal waves and strong beach erosion on the coasts.

Answer 2

The Greenhouse Effect is caused by gases in the atmosphere of earth. What happens is that heat and energy emitted by the earth are not lost to space, but trapped and recycled close to the earth by the gases. It can be the natural effect of an atmosphere, but can also refer to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as a result of burning fossil fuels, etc. This contributes to "global warming", and the greatest contributor by far is the United States.

Answer 3

In common usage, "greenhouse effect" may 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..
The Greenhouse Effect is caused by gases in the atmosphere of earth. What happens is that heat and energy emitted by the earth are not lost to space, but trapped and recycled close to the earth by the gases. It can be the natural effect of an atmosphere, but can also refer to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,
.it should be the country with ahuge population---u.s,china or india??





sHaKiRa

Answer 4

There are articles by people who may have an agenda other than the absolute truth. Science marches forwards and we figure out stuff that we did not know earlier. There are multiple factors. Did you know that NASA found that the Ice Caps on Mars are melting? Mankind could not possibly have caused that, right? The Sun has got to be going through some kind of cycle. When we look at weather history, with evidence found in the ground, tree rings, major historical events, it becomes pretty obvious that the planet has had several cycles of global warming and global cooling, long before human technology was playing much of a role. I do not believe that any one thing is responsible. It is a combination. That makes it difficult to analyse which is "more" or "less" responsible.

Answer 5

The Green House Effect is a fake, It just so happens that Mars is having the same "Green Houes Effect" with the Ice caps melting there also, they have also had the EXACT SAME rise in tempature. This is a sun cycle and is already documented by scientist. And Reported on the news about the mars rise in temps within the last week.

This Global Warming B.S. is a set up for a global tax for the new world order.

Look up global warming from sun cycles and you will find the same info, it was front page news on yahoo about a week ago.