Posted: September 5th, 2022

Greenhouse Effect and Global Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect and Global Climate Change
The earth’s atmosphere is made up of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases occur naturally and act as a “blanket,” trapping heat from escaping and allowing just enough to escape to space. Without these gases, the earth would either be too hot or extremely frozen to support life. However, in the past century, humans have been interfering with the balance of greenhouse gases. The highest levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the most dangerous greenhouse gas, have been recorded in the last decade.
The burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil releases carbon dioxide directly atmosphere. The carbon released combines with oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide. These excess greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere form a thick coating over the atmosphere, which absorbs the solar energy meant to escape to space. Trapping the extra heat meant to escape and keeping it close to the earth’s surface creates the greenhouse effect that causes temperatures to rise significantly.
The consequences of the greenhouse effect are unpredictable global climate changes. The first immediate effect is global warming. Global warming is the rise in global temperatures caused by the excess heat being trapped instead of being released to space. However, some regions may experience warmer climates, while others may not. Increased temperatures cause more evaporation and increased precipitation, making some parts wetter and others dryer.
The extreme greenhouse effect may result in significantly higher ocean temperatures that can partially melt glaciers and icebergs, increasing ocean levels. High temperatures heating the ocean also causes it to expand and further increases the ocean levels. The slightest rise in sea level can have devastating impacts on coastal habitats. It triggers destructive flooding and erosion, threatening the lives of sea animals and those further inland.
Changes in climatic conditions disturb the natural habitat, causing a shift in geographic ranges, disrupting seasonal activities, like mating seasons and migration patterns. Adverse climate changes do not only threaten wildlife and plant but also human life. For instance, warmer temperatures produce conducive conditions for insects and the spread of diseases like Zika and dengue fever. Drought from insufficient rainfall and floods from over precipitation can result in an inadequate food supply.
What Is the solution to the Greenhouse effect?
There is only one solution, reducing the emission of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. This can only be achieved by stopping the consumption of fossil fuels and pollution by substituting them with cleaner and renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, and geothermal energy. If we don’t act on climate change now, the increasing greenhouse gas emissions which are already causing climate change will have a worse impact in the long run.

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