Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

The earth and its atmosphere are warmed up due to the increase in the concentration of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The solar rays as well as the heat generated by the earth are not dissipated entirely into the space vacuum due to the gases that trap them into the earth's atmosphere. And this needed also as if there is no heat being trapped, the earth would overall be about 30 degree Celsius cooler and life would not be the same as we can feel it today. After million of years the delicate balance has been fractured, perhaps irreparably in the last 100 years. After the industrial revolution man adapted the to the newer lifestyle choices that have increased the production of greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gases primarily consists of Carbon-di-oxide, Argon, Neon, Helium, Methane, Hydrogen, and Nitrous Oxide. The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 and first investigated quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896. These greenhouse gases trap the heat from the sun and are also used to grow the plants during the winter season. In other words we can say that GHG's are essential, as without them earth would not be warm enough for the human to live. But on the contrary if the level of these gases increases, if can warm up the earth and led to the climate change.

The earth's atmosphere composition is :-

Nitrogen : 7.8%
Oxygen : 21%
Other gases : 1%

The Greenhouse Gases are :-

Carbon-di-oxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
Ozone
Water Vapour
Halocarbons

Aparana Chauhan