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THE CHANGING OF EARTHS NATURAL GREENHOUSE CO2 STICKS AROUND EARTH’S GREENHOUSE EFFECT BECOMES TOO STRONG
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THE CHANGING OF EARTHS NATURAL GREENHOUSE


Human activities are changing the natural greenhouse. Over the last century the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). This happens because the coal or oil burning process combines carbon with oxygen in the air to make CO2. Also responsible for higher levels of CO2 is the clearing of land for agriculture, industry.




CO2 STICKS AROUND


CO2 remains in the atmosphere longer than the other major heat-trapping gases emitted as a result of human activities. It takes about a decade for methane (CH4) emissions to leave the atmosphere (it converts into CO2) and about a century for nitrous oxide (N2O).


After a pulse of CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere, 40% will remain in the atmosphere for 100 years and 20% will reside for 1000 years, while the final 10% will take 10,000 years to turn over. This literally means that the heat-trapping emissions we release today from our cars and power plants are setting the climate our children and grandchildren will inherit.




EARTHS GREENHOUSE EFFECT BECOMES TOO STRONG


Too much heat stays trapped in the atmosphere.


Universe


Solar Radiation

Atmosphere


Infra Red Radiation

Absorption infrared radiation

Re-absorbtion infrared radiaton

Earth


 Shortwave solar radiation becomes longwave infrared radiation

Absorption

Re-absorbtion

Re-emission

Emission


The surface temperature on our planet ought to be on average approximately 15 degrees Celsius.

A higher content of atmospheric greenhouse gases results in an increased absorption and reabsorbing cycle.  

Greenhouse Gases

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Gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide do what the roof of a greenhouse does. Trapping solar heat  that is responsible for our weather as we know it.

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Inversion layers are blankets of air trapping various sorts of air pollutants. Natural ventilation by the convection mechanism is not possible.

  

Urban Heat Island

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Brown Cloud

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Fig. 1


A very simplified display of Earth’s Greenhouse effect becoming too strong.  


More greenhouses gases results more absorbed heat in the atmosphere.


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THE IMPORTANCE OF ATMOSPHERIC CONVECTION


Convection within the troposphere is critical in order to prevent global warming

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THE CHANGING OF EARTHS NATURAL GREENHOUSE

The disruption to Earth’s climate equilibrium has led to an increase in global average surface temperatures.