The greenhouse effect is a natural feature of our planet's atmosphere and therefore part of the natural function of life's existence. However, when this effect intensifies and becomes greater than the natural effect, the natural greenhouse effect ceases to exist and becomes negative, mainly caused by increased human activity. Between the causes of the greenhouse effect negative, the most prominent is the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from our energy system. Basically, the increased use of fossil fuels and their derivatives, natural gas and coal contributes to the emission of these gases, which adds to the problem. Among the consequences of this phenomenon we find an increase in temperature and a decrease in species. Fortunately, there are a few things we can do to fix this problem.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you everything you need to know about the causes of the greenhouse effect and its consequences.
What is the greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect It is a natural process that occurs in the Earth's atmosphere.. The process begins when solar energy reaches the Earth's surface, travels through the atmosphere, and heats the land or geosphere, as well as surface water or the hydrosphere. The heat that emanates from the surface of the planet rises then, the gases of the atmosphere are in charge of retaining part of the energy in the form of heat, and the rest is returned to space through the atmosphere. In this way, life could exist on Earth as we know it because optimal temperatures were maintained under other conditions.
However, over the years, the impact of human activity on the planet has affected this process, turning it into something negative. This natural process it is harmful to the planet and therefore to all life on it, because pollution from human activity has grown exponentially in recent centuries, especially in recent decades, it has done so much that at this point a negative greenhouse effect is formed.
Therefore, we humans pollute the environment by filling it with greenhouse gases in our daily activities, such as manufacturing, driving, the use of aerosols or intensive and industrial agriculture. They rise into the atmosphere and are retained, preventing the heat that rises from the surface from being correctly expelled and retained by the atmosphere, which is exactly what happens in plant greenhouses, accelerating the increase in the planet's temperature.
Causes of the greenhouse effect
As we mentioned, the cause of the negative greenhouse effect is the increase in human activities that come from pollution, which produce gases that remain in the atmosphere and help raise the temperature. In general, the main causes of ozone layer problems are the following:
- Industrial factory.
- Intensive agriculture.
- Use a spray.
- Poor recovery and reuse of materials.
- It uses fossil fuels and rarely uses renewable energy.
- Excessive consumption of electricity that does not come from renewable sources.
- Misuse of polluting vehicles such as cars, buses, motorcycles and planes that use fossil fuel derivatives.
- Deforestation.
All of these human actions lead to an increase in harmful gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect.
What are GHGs
The main greenhouse gases with thermal insulation properties are the following:
- Water steam.
- Methane (CH4).
- Carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
- Ozone (O3).
- Nitrous oxide (N2O).
effects and consequences
The impact of the problem on the ozone layer eventually led to serious awareness across the planet. There is a need to understand and make others aware, especially through the education of children, about the impact and awareness of the greenhouse effect, and its seriousness in the life of human beings and other plant and animal species. These are the results of this atmospheric problem:
- The temperature of the planet has increased significantly.
- The influence of solar radiation increases.
- Climate change.
- Effects of climate and environmental change on ecosystems.
- Drought intensifies in areas that are usually rainy.
- There will be more rain and storms in areas that are not usually very wet and rainy.
- Soil erosion, loss of fertility for agriculture.
- The melting of the polar ice caps and glaciers, such as the famous Galenland melt.
- Rising water levels in oceans, oceans, rivers, ponds, lakes, etc.
- Floods occur in coastal areas due to rising water levels.
Possible solutions
Finally, we will comment on what solutions exist against the greenhouse effect, since it is necessary to do everything possible to stop its increase and reduce the level of harmful gases. Therefore, as a measure to reduce the greenhouse effect and prevent its increase and severity, we can follow these tips:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 and CH4.
- Use renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels, their derivatives, natural gas and coal.
- Use public transport and other non-polluting means of transport, such as bicycles or other ecological means of transport.
- Raise ecological awareness among citizens and, most importantly, instill this knowledge in children and teach them what they can do to improve the problem.
- Reduce meat consumption and therefore reduce the use of intensive and industrialized livestock, prefer genetically modified livestock and other livestock that are more respectful of the environment.
- Governments are involved in taking measures to reduce this problem and prevent the increase of the greenhouse effect and climate change. An example of these measures is the Kyoto Protocol.
- Continue investigating possible improvements related to environmental issues.
- Recycle and run properly. In this recycling guide we explain how to recycle waste at home.
- Don't waste energy, like electricity in your home.
- Eat organic products.
- Serious damage to plant and animal species due to changes in the environmental conditions of the earth.
- Migration of animals and people.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the causes of the greenhouse effect and its characteristics.