Greenhouse Effect | General Knowledge Encyclopedia - Class 8 PDF Download

How does the greenhouse effect work?

• The greenhouse effect is similar to how a greenhouse works. A greenhouse is a structure with glass walls and a glass roof used for growing plants, and it stays warm inside even during winter by trapping the Sun's heat with the glass.
• On Earth, the greenhouse effect operates similarly. Certain gases in the atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide), act like the glass roof of a greenhouse by trapping heat.
• During the day, the Sun's rays pass through the atmosphere, warming Earth's surface.
• At night, Earth's surface cools down and releases heat into the air.
• However, some of the heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• This trapped heat helps in maintaining Earth's average temperature at around 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius), making our planet warm and comfortable.

How are humans impacting the greenhouse effect?

• Human activities are having an impact on Earth's natural greenhouse effect. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, releases additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
• NASA has recorded a rise in the levels of carbon dioxide and certain other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Excessive accumulation of these greenhouse gases can lead to an intensified trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere, resulting in global warming.

What reduces the greenhouse effect on Earth?

• Similar to a glass greenhouse, Earth's greenhouse effect involves the presence of plants. Plants play a crucial role in maintaining this balance by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, ranging from large trees to microscopic ocean phytoplankton.
• The ocean also plays a significant role by absorbing a considerable amount of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Unfortunately, this leads to changes in the water's chemistry, causing it to become more acidic, a phenomenon known as ocean acidification.
• The increased acidity can have detrimental effects on various ocean creatures, including certain shellfish and coral. Additionally, the warming of the oceans, driven by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, poses a threat to these organisms, with rising temperatures being a major contributor to coral bleaching.