Global warming is a major problem involving the heating of the earth. Because of this, it is important to understand the science behind the process. When referring to the process, there is what is called the greenhouse effect. To explain this phenomenon, it is important to know that the effect is driven by the earth’s main source of heat, the sun. As the sun heats the earth, it emits what is known as solar radiation. Solar radiation travels in short wavelengths, and because of this, it has the ability to penetrate earth’s atmosphere. Although earth does absorb most of the heat from the sun, it also re-emits some of it as well, and so this re-emitted form of heat is known as thermal (infrared) radiation. Thermal radiation waves are actually longer than solar radiation waves. This means that they have a harder time penetrating the “greenhouse blanket” that surrounds the earth. In essence, the thermal radiation for the most part does not make its way into space, and is instead absorbed by various greenhouse gases that make up earth’s atmosphere. So essentially, the planet becomes heated and this is what is known as the greenhouse effect.
There are four main types of greenhouse gases. These gases are classified as water vapor (H20), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20). Each of these gases contribute a specified amount to the overall effect. Their contributions are 36-70%, 9-26%, 4-9%, and 3-7% respectively. Now, in many ways the greenhouse effect is not such a bad thing. In fact, without it, our planet would likely suffer from constant freezing temperatures that would kill off much of the life that inhabits earth today. However, the real problem stems from the verity that there is simply too much of these gases in earth’s atmosphere in this day and age. And this is where the phenomenon of climate change makes its debut.
Like most things in life, anything is usually okay in moderation, and the same applies to the amount of radiation-absorbing particles that hang out in the air. The earth has been around for billions of years. Throughout its existence, there has not been that much change at all in its overall temperature patterns with the exception of a few very well-known events. One of the most important was known as the Ice Age. This era was brought to an end specifically by global warming. Due to the rise in CO2 levels from the ocean (for reasons that are still unknown), there resulted in the melting of a mass amount of ice that covered the continents of North America and Canada at the time. Many scientists reflect upon this crucial happening to predict what actually may happen if CO2 levels continue to rise drastically in the future. A term that often comes up is that of Climate Sensitivity, or how much the earth can heat up in the coming years without it threatening existence of species on this planet.
It is very interesting in my opinion to see how the entire process of global warming actually works. Everything is interconnected, and although it definitely is essential for the functioning of this world and everyday life, it will also be our downfall if we continue to ignore the obvious signs before us. When it comes down to it, the entire greenhouse effect is something that can be influenced greatly by the surrounding environment, and the earth has conditioned itself to operate in a fashion that upholds certain atmospheric limitations.