Tag: greenhouse effect

Greenhouse effect refers to the absorption of the sun's radiations by the atmospheric gases like carbon dioxide and trapping of these radiations within the atmosphere. These are subsequently reflected onto the earth's surface and cause an increase in the global temperature, called global warming. Infra-red radiations reaching earth will not increase the temperature. Moisture layer in the atmosphere does not show the greenhouse effect. Ozone layer in atmosphere absorbs the UV within stratosphere so that they do not reach the earth's surface.

Greenhouse effect can be defined as the trapping of the radiations of the sun by the atmospheric gases and the subsequent reflection on the earth's surface causing global warming. There are many greenhouse gases like water vapour, methane, CFCs etc. but carbon dioxide is the major concern because it has contributed to most of the global warming 1750 to 2011 as per IPCC data and it tends to accumulate in the atmosphere. It is released in greater amounts from the vehicular emissions, deforestation, industrial emissions etc. so it constitutes around 81% of the greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse effect refers to the absorption of the sun's radiations by the atmospheric gases like carbon dioxide and trapping of these radiations within the atmosphere. These are subsequently reflected onto the earth's surface and cause an increase in the global temperature, called global warming. So, greenhouse effect is related to the global warming caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, sulphur tetrafluoride etc.

El Nino is a climate cycle, occurring after 5-8 years in the Pacific ocean which globally impacts weather pattern. The cycle begins when warm water in the western tropical Pacific Ocean shifts eastward along the equator toward the coast of South America. The cold counterpart of El Nino is called La Nino. The weakening of the trade winds which results in pushing of warm surface water to the west and less cold water to the east cause the effect of El Nino.

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapours trap heat radiating from earth towards space making the earth warmer. The increased amount of these gases block Heat from escaping and they present in the earth's atmosphere for more than their expected period. Scientist attributes the cause of global warming to such semi-permanently existing gases 'forcing' climate change.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. It absorbs the long wavelength infrared radiations. The chemical bond between carbon and oxygen absorb infrared light very well and traps the heat from escaping, so they are considered to be opaque to the infra-red rays as these cannot pass across the carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide molecules vibrate on receiving energy from the photon and allows molecules to capture the infrared photons (radiation).