Colorado Technical University
Professor Nicholas Kusina
Phase 3 IP
Latasha Slidge
January 29 2013
There are a number of definitions of what the “greenhouse effect” means. The first is the “natural” and the other is the “man-made greenhouse effect”. To define both of these terms the “natural” greenhouse effect keeps the earth warm and habitable. The “man-made” greenhouse effect is basically the natural greenhouse effect but with an addition of gases from the fossil fuels that are burning. Greenhouse gases slender the rate that the Earth’s surface loses any infrared radiation to outer space which in turn makes the lower surface’s a lot warmer then usual.
Greenhouse gases are keeping the Earth’s surface and low layers of the atmosphere warmer and the upper layers are to be colder because of the gases. 10-20% of the Earth’s natural greenhouse effect is due to carbon dioxide, methane and other gases like nitrogen and oxygen for example.
Carbon dioxide concentration has been increasing and it is because of the burning fossil fuel and rainforest burning as well. The pre industrial atmospheric concentration was a mere 270ppm or 270 parts per million but since the year 2012 is has increased to 400ppm. This can cause the man made part of the green house effect and can be blamed on the scientist for the global warming of the past century and plus more years. It is also believed that the concentration of methane in an extremely small amount which is measured also in the parts per millions has increased and had an effect on the greenhouse effect but is unknown what the specific reasoning is for it.
The possibility of climate change happens because of the scientific concern that higher carbon dioxide is going to change the climate in the future also known as global warming. Other predictions of environmental change are large scale forest dieback, sea level rise, altered agricultural productivity and can only turn for the worst with more warmth. If
References: "Solar Radiation and the Earth 's Energy Balance". Eesc.columbia.edu. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Rasool, I.; De Bergh, C.; De Bergh, C. (Jun 1970). "The Runaway Greenhouse and the Accumulation of CO2 in the Venus Atmosphere". Retrieved January 27, 2012