The GreenHouse Effectby | 01-01-2013 16:00 |
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The phenomenon of trapping and radiating heat by GHGs such as Carbon dioxide, Methane etc in the atmosphere is called 'greenhouse effect'. Since green house gases absorb the radiant heat energy, they are known as radiatively active gases. Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxide (N2o), Methane (CH4) and ozone (O3) are primary green house gases in the earth's atmosphere. On a molecule for molecule basis, methane is 21 times more effective, N2o is 310 times more effective and Chlorofloro carbon is 12,000 to 15,000 more effective than CO2 in trapping atmospheric heat. It is the heat trapping quality of GHGs is also called global warming potentiality which warms the planet and makes the earth habitable. The problem is the extra warming resulting from the rise in concentration of GHGs during the last century. The extra GHGs come mostly from large scale burning of fossil fuels from industries and fossil fuel vehicle, from intensified agricultural activity and deforestation, and from various other land use changes, mining, and other human activities. |
