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When one starts a car or burns wood, the last thought on their mind is the consequences
to these actions. Unfortunately, the daily dangers to earth are not widely know. Due to
the constant change of society, this planet must cope with various problems. One of the
most important ecological structures is the ozone layer. The same shield that protects us
from the sun's deadly radiation, can also act as a blanket engulfing us in heat. This
situation is know as the greenhouse effect. What is the greenhouse effect, what causes
it, and what can be done to control it?
The problem of global warming has been around for some time now. Though not until
recently has it become a priority. So important, that figures such as Vice President Al
Gore have spoken out. Many are realizing that the greenhouse effect is not something to
be put aside, yet rather something to be worked on and studied. "The greenhouse effect
displays that nature is not immune to our presence" (Kralijic, 1992). Ways must be found
to lessen the threat of this growing crisis. If this effect were to continue and grow,
the earth's population would be exposed to serious threats.
Carbon dioxide is essential for plants who use it for photosynthesis, yet too much can
lead to serious threats. The problem lies in the disruption of
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the balance between how much carbon dioxide plants intake, and what our population
produces. If this natural filtering process is unbalanced, the atmosphere will receive
too much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Once these gases form in the
atmosphere, they act as barriers trapping in heat and warming the earth.
This process is not new. In fact, without the greenhouse effect, the average surface
temperature of the earth would be about 59 Fahrenheit degrees lower than it is today.
"Long before civilization intervened , the thin blanket of gases that surround the earth
was efficiently trapping a tiny portion of the sun's heat and keeping it near the surface
to warm up the air just enough to prevent temperatures from plunging to frigid extremes
every night- which, of course, is exactly what happens on the moon and on planets like
Mars that have very thin atmospheres" (Gore, 1992).
The greenhouse effect received its name because the atmosphere of the earth acts much
like the glass roof on a greenhouse. Sunlight enters the greenhouse through the glass as
it heats up the plants. Then, the warmth is trapped as the glass slows the withdraw of
heat. Similarly, the earth's atmosphere lets most of the sun's light enter and heat the
surface. The earth
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then sends this energy, called Infrared Radiation, back into the atmosphere (showed in
the diagram on page 7). This is when the actual effect takes place. Not all of the
Infrared Radiation is sent freely into space. Certain gases in the atmosphere absorb it
and send it back toward earth. Such gases are Carbon Dioxide, Ozone, and water vapor. As
stated earlier, this process becoming more important. Due to the burning of fossil fuels
such as coal, oil, and natural gas, carbon dioxide is increasing thus increasing the
amplitude of the greenhouse effect.
The greenhouse effect would have disastrous on this planet's population. "Climate
changes will threaten agriculture and our food supply, probably eliminating the Great
Plains or prairies of North America as a region in which crops may be grown, for example.
Also, melting of parts of the Antarctic ice sheet will cause flooding of coastal cities
such as London , New York, Beijing, Amsterdam, St. John's, Halifax, Vancouver , even
Montreal and of entire countries, such as Bangladesh" (Johnson, 1990). The greenhouse
effect is not limited to certain countries or states. The entire world will suffer if it
is allowed to grow. "Some scientists think that from the late 1990's to the late 2000's
the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
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could double. If this doubling were to occur, it would intensify the greenhouse effect
and result in an increase of 2.7 to 11 Fahrenheit degrees (1.5 to 6 Celsius degrees) in
the earth's average temperature" (Gille, 1988). The results are real and quite intense.
The outlook is not good.
Something must be done quickly to slow the growth of the greenhouse effect. It is not a
hopeless situation. "Reverse your oxygen debt. The less fuel you burn and the more
oxygen-producing plants you grow, the more you will add oxygen to the atmosphere and
lower your output of greenhouse gases" (British Columbia Medical Association, 1990).
Solar power also plays a part in this. Although just recently taking hold, solar power
could greatly lessen the output of the greenhouse gases as could hydroelectric power
could. Besides different power sources, many companies are producing environment safe
products and even air cleaners. It may be a nuisance, but it is possible to lessen the
greenhouse effect.
The issue of the greenhouse effect is not seriously taken by many people. If it doesn't
jump out in front of their faces or directly and immediately concern them, they pay no
attention. If we do not take action,
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the earth may become Venus's exact "twin-planet", covered in a thick cloud of sulfuric
acid and sulfur. It is not a pretty outlook to say the least. Any little thing can help,
and, if we all take action, we can slow the greenhouse effect down to the point where it
won't be a serious threat for many, many years.
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DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY
University of Maryland College Park
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References
Gille, J. (1988). Greenhouse effect. World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: Scott Fetzer
company.
Gorder, C. (1991). Green Earth Resource Guide. Tempe, AZ: Blue Bird Publishing.
Gore, A. (1992). Earth in the Balance. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Hammond, Scully, Mast, & Powell. (1991). Environmental Almanac. Boston, MA: Houghton
Mifflin Company.
Johnson, G. (1990). Environmental Tips on how you can save this planet. Calgary, Alberta:
Detselig Enterprises.
Kralijic, M. (1992). The Greenhouse Effect. New York, NY: The H.W. Wilson Company.
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