Greenhouse Effect and Conservation of natural resources

Rishith Paramasivam 5th Standard, I section Bishop Cotton Boys School Bangalore Karnataka India 560 025

Table of Contents
1 2 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Greenhouse Effect ................................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 2.2 2.3 THE NATURAL GREENHOUSE EFFECT ............................................................................................ 3 THE ENHANCED GREENHOUSE EFFECT ......................................................................................... 4 THE EFFECTS .................................................................................................................................. 4 The Weather ......................................................................................................................... 4 Sea Levels .............................................................................................................................. 5 Farming ................................................................................................................................. 5 Water .................................................................................................................................... 5 Plants & Animals ................................................................................................................... 6 People ................................................................................................................................... 6

2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 2.3.5 2.3.6 3

Conservation of natural resources ........................................................................................................ 6 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Control global warming................................................................................................................. 6 Prevent the gases can cause greenhouse effect ........................................................................... 6 Go Green ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Geo-engeering Technique ............................................................................................................. 7 Recycling ....................................................................................................................................... 7

Awareness campaign on conserving ..................................................................................................... 8 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Plant more trees ........................................................................................................................... 8 Walk more, drive less .................................................................................................................... 8 Save water..................................................................................................................................... 9 Save energy ................................................................................................................................... 9 Recycle and reuse ......................................................................................................................... 9 Renewable sources of energy ....................................................................................................... 9 Change habits................................................................................................................................ 9 Save animals................................................................................................................................ 10 Go green...................................................................................................................................... 10

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 10

Introduction

The Earth is wrapped in a blanket of air called the 'atmosphere', which is made up of several layers of gases. The sun is much hotter than the Earth and it gives off rays of heat (radiation) that travel through the atmosphere and reach the Earth. The rays of the sun warm the Earth, and heat from the Earth then travels back into the atmosphere. The gases in the atmosphere stop some of the heat from escaping into space. These gases are called greenhouse gases and the natural process between the sun, the atmosphere and the Earth is called the 'Greenhouse Effect', because it works the same way as a greenhouse. The windows of a greenhouse play the same role as the gases in the atmosphere, keeping some of the heat inside the greenhouse.

2
2.1

Greenhouse Effect
THE NATURAL GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The atmosphere has a number of gases, often in tiny amounts, which trap the heat given out by the Earth. To make sure that the Earth's temperature remains constant, the balance of these gases in the atmosphere must not be upset. The GREENHOUSE GASES are very important and are mainly: Water vapour: occurs naturally in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide: produced naturally when people and animals breathe. Plants and trees absorb carbon dioxide to live. Volcanoes also produce this gas. Methane: comes from cattle as they digest their food. The gas also comes from fields where rice is grown in paddy fields. Nitrous oxide: when plants die and rot, nitrous oxide is produced. Ozone: occurs naturally in the atmosphere

2.2

THE ENHANCED GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Some of the activities of man also produce greenhouse gases. These gases keep increasing in the atmosphere. The balance of the greenhouse gases changes and this has effects on the whole of the planet. Burning fossil fuels - coal, oil and natural gas - releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Cutting down and burning trees also produces a lot of carbon dioxide. A group of greenhouse gases called the chlorofluorocarbons, - which are usually called CFCs, because the other word is much too long! - have been used in aerosols, such as hairspray cans, fridges and in making foam plastics. They are found in small amounts in the atmosphere. They are dangerous greenhouse gases because small amounts can trap large amounts of heat. Because there are more and more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, more heat is trapped which makes the Earth warmer. This is known as GLOBAL WARMING. A lot of scientists agree that man's activities are making the natural greenhouse effect stronger. If we carry on polluting the atmosphere with greenhouse gases, it will have very dangerous effects on the Earth.

2.3

THE EFFECTS

With more heat trapped on Earth, the planet will become warmer, which means the weather all over Earth will change. For example, summers will get hotter, and winters too. This may seem a good idea, but the conditions we are living in are perfect for life, and a large rise in temperature could be terrible for us and for any other living thing on Earth. At the moment, it is difficult for scientists to say how big the changes will be and where the worse effects will occur. 2.3.1 The Weather

In Britain, winter and summer temperatures will increase and the weather will be warmer. In winter it may also rain more but in summer it may become drier.

In other parts of the world, the effects will be different, some places will become drier and others will be wetter. Although most areas will be warmer, some areas will become cooler. There may be many storms, floods and drought, but we do not know which areas of the world will be affected. All over the world, these weather changes will affect the kind of crop that can be grown. Plants, animals and even people may find it difficult to survive in different conditions.

2.3.2

Sea Levels

Higher temperatures will make the water of the seas and oceans expand. Ice melting in the Antarctic and Greenland will flow into the sea. All over the world, sea levels may rise, perhaps by as much as 20 to 40 cm, by the beginning of the next century. Higher sea levels will threaten the low-lying coastal areas of the world, such as the Netherlands and Bangladesh. Throughout the world, millions of people and areas of land will be at danger from flooding. Many people will have to leave their homes and large areas of farmland will be ruined because of floods. In Britain, East Anglia and the Thames estuary will be at risk from the rising sea. 2.3.3 Farming

The changes in the weather will affect the types of crops grown in different parts of the world. Some crops, such as wheat and rice grow better in higher temperatures, but other plants, such as maize and sugarcane do not. Changes in the amount of rainfall will also affect how many plants grow. The effect of a change in the weather on plant growth may lead to some countries not having enough food. Brazil, parts of Africa, south-east Asia and China will be affected the most and many people could suffer from hunger. 2.3.4 Water

Everywhere in the world, there is a big demand for water and in many regions, such as the Sahara in Africa, there is not enough water for the people. Changes in the weather will bring more rain in some countries, but others will have less rain. In Britain, the Southeast will be at risk from drought.

2.3.5

Plants & Animals

It has taken million of years for life to become used to the conditions on Earth. As weather and temperature changes, the homes of plants and animals will be affected all over the world. For example, polar bears and seals, will have to find new land for hunting and living, if the ice in the Arctic melts. Many animals and plants may not be able to cope with these changes and could die. This could cause the loss of some animal and plant species in certain areas of the world or everywhere on Earth. 2.3.6 People

The changes in climate will affect everyone, but some populations will be at greater risk. For example, countries whose coastal regions have a large population, such as Egypt and China, may see whole populations move inland to avoid flood risk areas. The effect on people will depend on how well we can adapt to the changes and how much we can do to reduce climate change in the world.

Conservation of natural resources

There are two types of the greenhouse effect: the natural and the man-made. The greenhouse you are probably talking about is the man-made-- the bad one. The man-made OVER heats it. The natural warms it so we can still survive. And global warming is also affected by humans, and it is also natural. But we should still try to prevent it.

3.1

Control global warming

control the emission of pollutants from various automobiles. try to use public transport instead of private vehicle. factories and industries should control their pollution. wastes should not be burned.

3.2

Prevent the gases can cause greenhouse effect

reduce production of CO2 by for example not using cars, use filters to refine the gas which is produced by factories Switch off lights when you aren't using them. Get an open fire for your home and use central heating as little as possible Begin recycling all plastic or papers we are going to throw away just go and drop it on the recycle bin. Don't use aerosols. Don't burn fossil fuels

stop farting, smoking, driving We can stop driving cars and throwing out good stuff. decrease in use of those instruments which emit these gases Walking, riding your bicycle, or taking the bus instead of always going by car. Not wasting electricity (turn off the lights, the radio, the TV and the computer when you're not using them). Reducing, reusing or recycling all kinds of items, from soda pop cans to clothes, to save energy and raw materials. Planting trees to help absorb excess CO2, and to provide shade and windbreaks to keep buildings at more even temperatures so they will require less energy for heating or cooling.

3.3

Go Green

Go green!!! Recycle, reuse grocery bags, take shorter showers, have a compost bin, have a worm farm. Trees take carbon dioxide out of the air and give back the oxygen we need to breathe. So, trees can help balance the effects of using energy. If every family in the U.S. planted just one tree, all of these trees would remove more than a billion pounds of greenhouse gases from the air every year!

3.4

Geo-engineering Technique

We could try geo-engineering techniques, however these methods are speculative, untested, and potentially dangerous in their own right, and the reduction of carbon emissions may still be additionally necessary. Geo-engineering methods include reducing global warming by reflecting the incident solar radiation, by emitting aerosols, increasing the reflectivity of the ground or clouds, or by using mirrors in space. The other geo-engineering approach is to capture carbon from the atmosphere in artificial 'chemical trees' so it can be buried, or to encourage algae growth in the ocean which then fall to the deep ocean floor. Our other alternative is to adapt human civilization and the biosphere to cope with the effects of climate change, through improved flood controls, a more flexible and expanded food supply, and the relocation or care of endangered species if possible. So no matter what resources your energy comes from, using energy efficiently at home, at school, and on the road is a very good way to reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants and help our planet stay healthy.

3.5

Recycling

Everyone knows that recycling helps the environment by reducing trash and saving space in our landfills, but did you know that recycling also saves energy? Producing new products from recycled materials uses about a quarter of the energy that is needed to make the same products from raw materials.

Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to light a standard 100-watt lightbulb for four hours. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a TV for three hours.

Look for the recycle symbol, a design of three arrows that make up a circle. This symbol is located on the bottoms of bottles, cans, and jars that can be recycled. The three arrows in the symbol stand for the three steps in the recycling process in which recyclable materials are (1) collected, (2) manufactured into new items, and (3) sold to consumers. If your community does not pick up recyclable materials from your home, ask your family to take them to a nearby recycling center. Reduce and Reuse, Too! Here are some ways you can reduce waste and reuse items. Can you think of others? If you bring your lunch to school, pack it in a lunch box or reusable cloth bag. Try using both sides of every sheet of paper, cutting paper into smaller squares for notes, reusing envelopes, and other paper-saving techniques. When you shop, ask your parents to buy bulk products (products sold in large quantities) to save on packaging. You can bring your own bags for some bulk products. Give away your old toys and books instead of throwing them away.

Recycle Newspapers, Save Trees Americans throw away the equivalent of more than 30 million trees in newsprint each year. Thirty million trees would fill more than 17,000 acres. Recycle your old newspapers. Recycling one 4-foot-high stack of newspapers will save a good-sized tree.

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4.1

Awareness campaign on conserving

Plant more trees

This is easy, you know? Choose an open area/ground near your residence or workplace. Unless there's any law restricting you from growing trees in that area, go ahead, and grow trees. Plant a tree every month, encourage your friends and colleagues to join you. Have more and more trees planted and there will come a day when you have a green stretch of land thanks to your effort.

4.2

Walk more, drive less

Now that's not very difficult, is it? Choose to walk short distances instead of taking your car every time. Go walking to the gym, to work (if it's not very far), go walking to run errands. Or use a bicycle. Both cycling and walking are good exercises. And each time you avoid using your car, you are contributing to reducing air pollution. You are saving fuel, saving money and getting a good workout too. Now isn't that beneficial for both you and the environment?

4.3

Save water

Water is a very important natural resource. It's we who waste it, pollute it. The simplest ways to save water - turn off water taps after use. Use of flushes and showers can lead to wastage of water. Use only as much water as necessary. Do not dump garbage down a storm drain. When you visit a beach, see that you don't spill food or dump waste around. Do not pollute rivers by dumping garbage, sewage or other waste material in them. This pollutes water bodies. There are laws prohibiting you from doing this. But then it has to come from within - the awareness and the awakening. Water is so precious, we can't waste or pollute it.

4.4

Save energy

There are so many electrical gadgets you must be using daily - the air conditioner, heater, refrigerator and oven among many more. Then, there are lights and fans. Do you maintain the appliances in good condition? Do you keep a check on their power consumption? Replace the air filters for your air conditioning unit once a month. Turn off the AC when not in use. Refrigerators and water heaters consume a lot of power. So use them scrupulously. Switch off the lights and fans in your room before leaving it. Make sure the electrical appliances are not left on (unless necessary), when leaving the house. Make it a point to switch off the television set or music system after use. Don't keep them on when there's no one using them. Your computer is one of the most used gadgets in the house. Do not keep it switched on when no one's using it. Now weren't these very simple ways of saving the environment?

4.5

Recycle and reuse

This is the best measure to save the environment. A simple way to do this is to reduce the use of rubber and plastic. Instead, use paper bags and cardboard containers. Even the practice of buying in bulk can help save a lot of packaging material, thus contributing to saving the environment. Buy products that you can reuse. You can reuse daily-use items like old wood, scrap paper to make wood and paper articles and old clothes (you can donate them to the needy or make other cloth items from them).

4.6

Renewable sources of energy

Resort to the use of renewable sources like solar, wind and hydro power. Start from your own house. Get a solar panel installed and start using solar power for water and room heaters. Small wind turbines are available for home use. Resort to their use for power generation. Even geothermal and ground source heat pumps are available for household use. The added benefit of harnessing alternative energy sources is that the Government offers you incentives for that.

4.7

Change habits

Some simple habits at the workplace can let you contribute towards saving the environment. When in office, print only when it is absolutely necessary to. Printing every soft copy leads to heavy wastage of paper. Use emails instead of paper for correspondence. Remember to switch your computer off when

leaving for the day. Don't keep the computer monitor on when you are away from the desk. Do not keep the lights of your cabin/office on when you are away. Avoid overuse of air conditioners. Do not use disposable plastic cups and plates when you have the option of using ceramic.

4.8

Save animals

Minimize the use of animal products. Animal fur and ivory are excessively used animal products. Animals are poached for their skin. They are used in scientific research. Animals are being killed in large numbers and are under the threat of extinction. Resolve not to hunt animals. Discourage those who do so for amusement. Discourage animal poaching. Make yourself and those around you, aware of the effects of animal extinction. Do your bit towards saving them. Donate to animal welfare schemes, work for animal shelters, adopt pets only if you are going to be able to take good care of them.

4.9

Go green

Activities like composting can be of great help in recycling garbage into useful manures. Avoid excessive use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic nutrients. Natural manures are a better option for farms and gardens. Using non-native plants disrupts the ecological balance. Don't use them just because they are exotic. Avoid using chemical pesticides for plants. Instead, turn to home remedies or other eco-friendly ways of maintaining your garden. You can consider rainwater harvesting in your locality if you live in an area which receives decent rainfall.

Conclusion

Create awareness which anyone of us can help save the environment. Read up and encourage those around you to read about the importance of saving nature. Put up posters or banners in the neighborhood, in your school, college or place of work. Organize an environmental awareness campaign. Get t-shirts or caps made with environmental awareness slogans written. Have everyone in your locality, class, school or workplace wear them and spread the word. These things help create an awakening in the masses about how grave environmental problems are and what we can do to solve them.