In this I/GCSE Chemistry blog post, we will learn
- What the greenhouse effect is
- how chemical elements are involved in the greenhouse gases
The Greenhouse Effect
1. Sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere.
2. The ground warms up and heat is emitted from the Earth’s surface.
3. Some heat escapes into space but some is absorbed by greenhouse gases. It is re-emitted and does not escape.
4. The Earth’s atmosphere warms up.
Adding to Greenhouse Gases
Human activities are adding to the quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Farming
- Farming causes the production of methane and nitrous oxide.
- Rice paddy fields produce methane, as do cattle. As the number of rice fields and cattle have increased, so has the amount of methane in the atmosphere.
- Nitrous oxide is released from animal waste and as a result of using fertilisers for crops
Using fuels
- Fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide when they are burned.
- When land is cleared for timber and farms (deforestation), there are fewer trees to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for photosynthesis.
- If the fallen trees are burned or left to rot, additional carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
- These factors are particularly important in tropical areas, where forests might be cleared to make way for cattle farms.
- Then, not only are fewer trees left to absorb carbon dioxide, but the burning trees release carbon dioxide and the cattle release methane.
That is all!
References:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.emsd.gov.hk%2Fenergyland%2Fen%2Fenergy%2Fenvironment%2Fgreenhouse.html&psig=AOvVaw1TcV9iIw0ohJIsGPOvXa1Z&ust=1628266995374000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCMD6yLOlmvICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fclimatekids.nasa.gov%2Fgreenhouse-effect%2F&psig=AOvVaw3bN1qdGAZQgraFDoEeYGKZ&ust=1628267024969000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCODH6b-lmvICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD