The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect A large majority of the insolation that is radiated A large majority of the insolation that is radiated

back into the atmosphere gets absorbed by back into the atmosphere gets absorbed by greenhouse gasesgreenhouse gases..

These include These include carbon dioxidecarbon dioxide, water vapor, and , water vapor, and methane.methane.

Normally, this is a good thing, because it keeps Normally, this is a good thing, because it keeps our planet at a our planet at a temperaturetemperature suitable for human suitable for human life.life.

The The greenhouse effectgreenhouse effect is a GOOD thing, is a GOOD thing, because without it, Earth’s temperature would be because without it, Earth’s temperature would be much too much too lowlow..

The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect

However, with an increase in the However, with an increase in the burningburning of of woodwood and and fossil fuelsfossil fuels, there is now additional , there is now additional carbon dioxidecarbon dioxide being added to the atmosphere. being added to the atmosphere.

Because of this, the atmosphere is absorbing Because of this, the atmosphere is absorbing moremore heat energy than it should and thus heat energy than it should and thus increasingincreasing Earth’s average temperature. Earth’s average temperature.

This is known as This is known as Global WarmingGlobal Warming.. This is NOT a good thing because it could lead This is NOT a good thing because it could lead

to the to the riserise of of sea levelsea level due to glaciers melting due to glaciers melting and a and a shiftshift in Earth’s in Earth’s climatic zonesclimatic zones..

Video

The Simpsons take on Global Warming Movie Clip

Questions:Questions:1. What are some examples of greenhouse1. What are some examples of greenhouse

gases?gases?

2. Why / How is additional carbon dioxide 2. Why / How is additional carbon dioxide being added to our atmosphere? being added to our atmosphere?

3. Why could the greenhouse effect be a bad 3. Why could the greenhouse effect be a bad thing?thing?

Insolation (sun rays) hit the Earth as ultraviolet and visible light (short wavelength) and reradiates as infrared, (longer wavelength). The longer wavelength gets trapped by the Co2 in our atmosphere.

To much carbon dioxide = increased global temperatures

Greenhouse Effect linklink