
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that occurs on Earth. Simply put, it keeps the earth warm enough to sustain life. The greenhouse effect is often thought to be a cause of global warming, however it is important to understand it as a separate phenomenon as well.
The greenhouse effect is mainly a result of the Sun’s energy(sunlight) being absorbed by certain gases present in the atmosphere after it is reflected from the surface of the earth. When the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth, around 51% of it is absorbed by the surface and the rest is absorbed or reflected back to space.
After reaching a certain temperature, the earth releases infrared heat, which is then absorbed by particular gases. This energy is then released in all directions, warming the earth’s surface and atmosphere. This helps to keep the Earth warm enough to support life. Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth’s surface temperature would average around 33 °C cooler than usual. The Earth would almost freeze! The greenhouse effect is also seen in some other planets of the solar system like Venus and Mars.
Absorption and Emission of Sunlight | |
Dispersion of Sunlight | Percentage |
Absorbed by the Earth’s surface | 51% |
Scattered and reflected by clouds | 20% |
Absorbed by atmosphere and clouds | 19% |
Scattered by the atmosphere | 6% |
Reflected by water and land surface | 4% |
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases play a major part in absorbing and emitting the heat which is re-radiated by the earth. These gases are more capable of absorbing heat that is reflected from the Earth’s surface than other gases present in the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are ozone, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor. These are present naturally in the Earth’s atmosphere. Along with these gases, clouds also play a part in absorbing and reflecting the heat. Water vapor and clouds contribute most to the greenhouse effect.
Percentage of Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere | |
Gas | Percentage |
Carbon dioxide | .036% |
Methane | .00017% |
Ozone | .000004% |
Nitrous Oxide | .00003% |
Water vapor | 1 to 4% |
Factors that Affect the Greenhouse Effect
The type of surface that sunlight encounters determines the amount of heat that is reflected back. This is known as ‘albedo’ and also has an impact on the greenhouse effect. For example more heat will be reflected from snow-covered areas than from deserts. Surfaces that are light in color will tend to reflect more than surfaces that are dark in color. The total energy received from the sun is another factor that determines the amount of warming the earth experiences. The composition of the greenhouse gases also impacts the level of heating that takes place. Presence of higher amounts of greenhouse gases will lead to increasing temperatures.
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
The greenhouse effect is important to keep the Earth warm and to sustain life, however, if it gets too warm, it could endanger all life on the planet. Global warming is a result of various human activities over the last century which have resulted in polluting the environment and increasing the amount of greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, methane present in the atmosphere. This has resulted in an increase in the average temperatures on Earth due to the greenhouse effect, which in turn affects the climate of the planet. The global community has tried to find a way to keep a check on the emissions of greenhouse gases, however progress has been slow.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions | ||||
Country | Latest Year Available | GHG Emissions* | % Change since 1990 | GHG Emissions per capita** |
Developed Countries | ||||
Australia | 2008 | 549.54 | 31.4 | 26.08 |
United States | 2008 | 6924.56 | 13.3 | 22.22 |
United Kingdom | 2008 | 631.73 | -18.5 | 10.32 |
Russian Federation | 2008 | 2229.57 | -32.9 | 15.77 |
Japan | 2008 | 1281.82 | 1.0 | 10.07 |
France | 2008 | 531.80 | -6.1 | 8.57 |
Developing Countries | ||||
Brazil | 1994 | 663.25 | 11.2 | 4.16 |
Bangladesh | 1994 | 45.93 | … | 0.37 |
India | 1994 | 1214.25 | … | 1.30 |
Nigeria | 1994 | 242.63 | … | 2.25 |
Zimbabwe | 1994 | 27.59 | … | 2.40 |
Peru | 1994 | 57.58 | … | 2.45 |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division (data updated in 2010)
* – million tons of CO2 equivalent
** – tons of CO2 equivalent
(CO2 equivalent conveys for a given amount of greenhouse gases, the amount of CO2 that would lead to the same level of global warming over a given period of time)
A harsher climate which could result from rising levels of greenhouse gases, may threaten the survival of the human race. The global community needs to take the problem of increasing greenhouse gas emissions more seriously, and take steps to ensure that the planet remains hospitable for generations to come.