The Horror of the Greenhouse Effect

by Janinah Jimmin M. Molina

The greenhouse effect as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary is the phenomenon whereby the earth's atmosphere traps solar radiation, caused by the presence in the atmosphere of gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass through but absorb heat radiated back from the earth's surface. In other words, retention of solar radiation.

According to MSN Encarta, the greenhouse effect results from the interaction between sunlight and the layer of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that extends up to 100 km (60 mi) above Earth’s surface. Sunlight is composed of a range of radiant energies known as the solar spectrum, which includes visible light, infrared light, gamma rays, X rays, and ultraviolet light. When the Sun’s radiation reaches Earth’s atmosphere, some 25 percent of the energy is reflected back into space by clouds and other atmospheric particles. About 20 percent is absorbed in the atmosphere. For instance, gas molecules in the uppermost layers of the atmosphere absorb the Sun’s gamma rays and X rays. The Sun’s ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the ozone layer, located 19 to 48 km (12 to 30 mi) above Earth’s surface.

For over a billion years, the greenhouse effect has warmed our planet. Today there is a great concern on the alteration of this natural process of which the causes are the different activities of humans. In turn, it can also harm us. The more we burn fossil fuels or engage in agricultural land clearing, the more gases are released into the air which include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases build up in the atmosphere and trap more heat near Earth’s surface.So what happens next? The Earth's climate is surely to become warmer than what naturally it is.

Picture yourself living on Earth and the weather is boiling hot. Sounds threatening, huh?