By: Syed Shahriar, Baber Ali Bakali, Areeb Uddin, Asfand, Porya

Brief History Joseph Fourier discovered the

greenhouse effect in 1824. 

He looked at some of the experimental data available at the time and worked out that the Earth gets most of its energy from solar radiation (the sun).

He thought that gases were responsible for absorbing the radiation and warming the earth.

He was one of the first scientists who stated that the energy on the earth came from numerous sources.

What is the Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect occurs

when the atmosphere allows most of the high energy radiation to pass through.

This radiation is then absorbed by earths surface ,converted into thermal energy and due to this the surface warms up.

Earth's surface then emits Infrared radiation. This is where the greenhouse gases come in and trap most of the radiation and radiate it back in all directions.

This causes the Earth to warm more. Due to this process the Earth's temperature is kept relatively warm instead of being cold.

How do Greenhouse Gases trap Infrared radiation?

Why cant air absorb infrared radiation?

Because oxygen gas contains two identical atoms and they can only vibrate back and forth.

Because water, carbon dioxide, and methane has 3 or more atoms and 2 different kinds it is able to vibrate and wiggle in different ways.

Due to this when infrared radiation reaches any greenhouse gas, these molecules trap the infrared energy and radiate in all directions.

What are the Greenhouse Gases?

Nitrous Oxide=

Carbon Dioxide=

Methane=

Ozone=

Water Vapour=

Causes of Greenhouse Gases

Natural: Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Ozone, and Water Vapour

Man Made: Deforestation, Electrical Appliances, Burning fossil fuels, Increase in human population

Causes of the Greenhouse Gases (Natural)The Greenhouse effect is beneficial

to Earth when it occurs naturally, but it is harmful when human actions speed up or alter the system of the greenhouse effect.

Causes of the Greenhouse Gases(human activities)  Carbon dioxide: is released into the atmosphere by the burning of solid waste,

wood and wood products, and fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal).

Nitrous oxide : emissions occur during various agricultural and industrial processes, and when solid waste or fossil fuels are burned.

Methane : is emitted when organic waste decomposes, whether in landfills or in connection with livestock farming. Methane emissions also occur during the production and transport of fossil fuels.

Ozone : protects the earth from potentially damaging doses of ultraviolet radiation. With the technological advances in the past century various man made substances have caused deletion of ozone from the Stratosphere. Depletion of ozone in the stratophere could lead to significant increases in UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, which could in turn lead to adverse human and animal health effects, as well as ecosystem impacts. Climate changes and global warming may lead to global catastrophe endangering millions of people and animal lives.

Causes of the Greenhouse Gases (human activities) Water vapor 

The contribution of water vapor to the anthropogenic greenhouse effect (i.e., that portion of greenhouse warming caused exclusively by humans) is still controversial. At numerous environmental conferences, greenhouse gases, such as CO2 and methane (CH4), are discussed primarily while many times the role of water vapor in both its natural and anthropogenic aspects remains unmentioned. Yet water vapor not only holds the pole position concerning the natural greenhouse effect, but also participates in the additional absorption of heat in the atmosphere which is exclusively caused by human activities.

Causes of the Greenhouse Gases (Human actions)

Deforestation:

It is the cutting down of trees and forests for human civilization and comfort

Causes of the Greenhouse Gases (DEFORESTATION)

Less Photosynthesis occurring.

Leads to a high amount of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere.

Causes of the Greenhouse GasesElectrical appliances

produce gases which help in the cause of the greenhouse effect. These gases are known as Chloroflourcarbons (CFCs)

Refrigerators, aerosol cans, foaming agents, extinguishers, chemical and cleaners, all have CFCs in them

Causes of the Greenhouse Gases: The Burning of Fossil fuels

Burning fossil fuels increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Industries are big producers of these gases.

Gasoline coal and oil are released into the atmosphere every single second due to the driving of automobiles and farming tractors

Causes of the Greenhouse Gases: Human Population The human population is an

indirect cause of the greenhouse effect.

More people means more cars, appliances, cities etc.

Possibly the main cause of the greenhouse effect..

Causes of Greenhouse Effect: Statistics

What are the issues regarding the Greenhouse

effect? Because human actions are altering and speeding up the process of the

greenhouse effect, it becomes harmful.

Serious Issue: Global Warming

A predicted rise of one degree of the earths temperature will occur by the year 2025, which could seriously effect the North American corn belt.

Polar Ice caps are slowly melting and could flood island states if temperature increases as predicted.

Possible solutions to reduce the Greenhouse effect  Reduce the use of fossil fuels by

using less energy or alternatives Turn off lights when not in use Instead of driving your car

everywhere walk or take the bus Eliminate the use of CFCs Stop Deforestation by using

alternatives to wood and planting a new tree whenever one is cut down, which would help increase the carbon dioxide absorption ability of the planet.

Bibliography

Global Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2004”http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/globalghg.html”

“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/nation-world/globalwarming/photos.html”

“http://www.indianchild.com/greenhouse_effect.htm”

“http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html”

http://www.ecoslopes.com/greenhouse-effect/greenhouse-effect-solutions

Contributions Page Editors: Syed Shahriar And Areeb Uddin

Photos: Syed Shahriar and Areeb Uddin

What is the greenhouse effect? , issues surrounding the greenhouse effect, how greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation…. By Syed Shahriar

Causes of the Greenhouse effect: Deforestation, electrical appliances, fossil fuels, human population, statistics……By Areeb Uddin

What are greenhouse gases?, causes of the Greenhouse gases.....Asfand

History Of the Greenhouse effect…..Baber Ali Bakali

Solutions to reduce greenhouse emissions….Porya