THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Climate vs. Weather

• Climate: Long-term average of weather patterns in a region over decades or centuries.
  • Includes temperature, rainfall, and seasonal trends.
• Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions on a daily or weekly basis.
  • Includes temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation.

Greenhouse Effect

• Definition: The mechanism whereby solar energy is trapped by water vapor and gases in the atmosphere, heating the atmosphere and helping to retain this heat.
  • Analogous to a glasshouse.
• Naturally occurring process that stabilized billions of years ago.
• Natural processes such as volcanic eruptions could temporarily disturb the greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse Effect - Process

1. The Sun emits energy (light/heat) that passes through the atmosphere and warms the Earth's surface.
2. The Earth’s surface absorbs solar energy and radiates some of it back into space as infrared heat.
3. Greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, and water vapor) absorb some of this heat, preventing it from escaping too quickly.
4. The atmosphere plays a vital role in maintaining a habitable temperature.

The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

• Term used to describe the heating of the atmosphere at a rate exceeding what is expected from natural processes.

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect - Causes

1. Heat from the sun.
2. Heat trapped by greenhouse gases.
3. Heat radiating back into space.
4. Greenhouse gases produced by power stations.
5. Greenhouse gases produced by industry.
6. Greenhouse gases produced by transport.
7. Greenhouse gases released by logging and forests and clearing land.
8. Methane escaping from landfills.
9. Methane from livestock.
10. Nitrous oxide released from fertilizers and fossil fuels.

Impact of Fossil Fuels

• Estimates suggest that if fossil fuels were never consumed, the average global surface temperature would be 1.2°C lower than current levels.

Contributions to Greenhouse Gases by Industry

• Electricity: $28.0\%$
• Agriculture: $9.0\%$
• Transportation: $29.0\%$
• Commercial & Residential: $12.0\%$
• Concrete: $8.0\%$
• Industry: $14.0\%$

What To Do - Summary

• Transitioning to Renewable Energy Sources
• Implementing Carbon Pricing
• Investing in Green Technologies
  • Purchasing green products
  • Supporting green businesses
• Enforcing Environmental Regulations