Is a natural process that permits the Earth

to retain some of the heat from the sun.

Gases in the atmosphere (water vapor,
carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and
methane) trap energy from the sun.



The Greenhouse Effect
The Earths surface receives energy from
two sources: the sun & the atmosphere
As a result the Earths surface is ~33C warmer
than it would be without an atmosphere

Greenhouse gases are transparent to
shortwave but absorb long wave radiation
Thus the atmosphere stores energy

78% nitrogen

20.6% oxygen

< 1% argon

0.4% water vapor

0.036% carbon
dioxide

traces gases:
Ne, He, Kr, H, O
3
Methane, Nitrous
Oxide
Selected Greenhouse Gases
Carbon Dioxide (CO
2
)
Source: Fossil fuel burning, deforestation
Anthropogenic increase: 30%
Average atmospheric residence time: 500 years
Methane (CH
4
)
Source: Rice cultivation, cattle & sheep ranching, decay
from landfills, mining
Anthropogenic increase: 145%
Average atmospheric residence time: 7-10 years
Nitrous oxide (N
2
O)
Source: Industry and agriculture (fertilizers)
Anthropogenic increase: 15%
Average atmospheric residence time: 140-190 years
Summary

Greenhouse gases absorb infrared
radiation and prevent it from escaping to
space.

Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide are very good
at capturing energy at wavelengths that
other compounds
miss




Greenhouse Effect & Global
Warming
The greenhouse effect & global
warming are not the same thing.
Global warming refers to a rise in the
temperature of the surface of the earth

An increase in the concentration of
greenhouse gases leads to an increase in
the the magnitude of the greenhouse
effect. (Called enhanced greenhouse
effect)
This results in global warming
Climate Change
Without these gases, heat would escape
back into space and Earths average
temperature would be about -18 C .

Because of how they warm our world,
these gases are referred to as greenhouse
gases.

Energy from the Sun passes through the
atmosphere.

Some Infrared rays are absorbed, then
emitted back to the atmosphere.

The greenhouse gases capture these rays
and return them to the earth.


A portion of the energy (26%) is
reflected or scattered back to space.
About 19% of the energy available is
absorbed by clouds, gases like ozone.
The remaining 55% of the energy
passing through the Earth's
atmosphere, 4% is reflected from the
surface back to space.
On average, about 51% of the Sun's
radiation reaches the surface.
This energy is then used in a number of
processes, including the heating of the
ground surface; the melting of ice and
snow and the evaporation of water; and
plant photosynthesis.


How are we changing the greenhouse
effect?
Normally most of the CO
2
came from
Forest Fires, Volcanic Eruptions and
Cellular Respiration
Now the increase of fossil fuels and the
clear cutting of Forests is shifting the
balance of the CO
2
present in the
atmosphere

BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect
www.weatherquestions.com
environment.nationalgeographic.co.in
www.econlib.org/
www.globalgiving.org

PRESENTED BY :

DIVIJ SINGH TEWATIA
ROLL NO 12
TANISHQ AGGARWAL
ROLL NO 40
IX - C