Greenhouse

Effect
 The real greenhouse
a gradual increase in the overall temperature
of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed
to the greenhouse effect caused by
increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs,
and other pollutants
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas (sometimes abbreviated GHG) is a gas in an
atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infra-red
range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect.
The primary greenhouse gases in earth’s atmosphere are water vapor,
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Without greenhouse
gases, the average temperature of earth’s surface would be colder than
the present average temperature.
Human activities since the beginning of the Industrial Revolusion (taken as
the year 1750) have produced a 40% increase in the atmospheric
concentration of carbon dioxide, from 280 ppm in 1750 to 400 ppm in
2015.
It has been estimated that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the
present rate, Earth's surface temperature could exceed historical values as
early as 2047, with potentially harmful effects on ecosystems, biodiversity
and the livelihoods of people worldwide.
 Greenhouse gases

The most abundant greenhouse gases

in Earth's atmosphere are:
Water vapor (H2O)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Ozone (O3)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
HydrofluorocarbonsHydrofluorocarbons
(incl. HCFCs and HFCs)
Why greenhouse gases are called so?

In the atmosphere, gases such as H2O, CO2, CH4, N2O, CFC, etc., are
capable of absorbing the terrestrial radiation (peaking at infrared
wavelength) and re-radiate in all directions. Thus part of the re-
radiation is sent back to the surface. This means that in the presence of
these gases, the atmosphere will be warmer than without them. These
gases thus play the role of glass panels in a greenhouse. Hence the
name greenhouse gases. It is therefore reasonable to expect that
increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases will cause warming in
the atmosphere.
Currently, CO2 is the main suspect of causing global warming because
combustion of fossil fuel naturally injects CO2 into the atmosphere.
Whereas other natural processes also inject CO2, the industrial
combustion process seems to play a significant role in the concentration
increase.
The main sources of greenhouse gases
✓ Burning of fossil fuels Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation leading to
higher carbon dioxide concentrations in the air. Land use change (mainly
deforestation in the tropics) account for up to one third of total anthropogenic
CO2 emissions.

✓ Livestock enteric fermentation Livestock enteric fermentation and manure

management, paddy rice Livestock enteric fermentation and manure
management, paddy rice farming, land use and wetland changes, pipeline
losses, and covered vented landfill emissions leading to higher methane
atmospheric concentrations. Many of the newer style fully vented septic systems
that enhance and target the fermentation process also are sources of
atmospheric methane.

✓ Use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigeration Use of chlorofluorocarbons

(CFCs) in refrigeration systems, and use of CFCs and halons Use of
chlorofluorocarbons
Halon (CFCs) in refrigeration systems, and use of CFCs and
halons
Halon isin afire suppression
liquefied, systemsgas
compressed andthat
manufacturing processes.
stops the spread of fire by chemically
disrupting combustion. Halon may refer to: Haloalkane, or halogenoalkane, a
✓ Agricultural
group activities,
of chemical includingconsisting
compounds the use of of
fertilizers,
alkanesthat
withlead to higher
linked nitrousIn
halogens.
oxide(N 2O) concentrations.
particular, bromine-containing haloalkanes. Halomethane fire extinguishing
systems.
Comparing Greenhouse Gases
The concept of a Global Warming Potential (GWP) has been developed to
compare the ability of each greenhouse gas to trap heat in the atmosphere
relative to another gas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) was chosen as the reference
gas to be consistent with IPCC.

The GWP of a greenhouse gas is the ratio of global warming, or radiative

forcing – both direct and indirect – from one unit mass of a greenhouse gas to
that of one unit mass of carbon dioxide over a period of time.

IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading
international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established by
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)The Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the
assessment of climate change. It was established by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO)The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading
international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established by
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide the world with a clear
scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its
What can be done to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases?
➢ Carbon Sequestration

Ocean
Forestry
Chemical
Biological

“Good-bye to a Greenhouse Gas - Dumping carbon dioxide underground or in

the oceans could slow global warming”

➢ Clean Fuels

➢ Alternate Energy Sources

➢ Policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Kyoto Protocol