2. The Greenhouse Effect
ď Greenhouse : glasshouse designed
to trap the heat of the sun
ď Uses: for production of fruits,
vegetables, and flowers in the
temperate countries
ď Heated naturally by the incoming
rays of the sun and artificially by
using hot air and water.
ď The system of trapping heat in an
enclosed area is known as the
greenhouse effect
3. Causes of Greenhouse
Effect
ď Natural process
ď Necessary for the survival of
living things as it keeps the earth
warm
ď The amount of greenhouse gases
have increased dramatically over
the last thousand years
4. Causes of Green House Effect
ď Burning of Fossil Fuels :
⢠The use of fossil fuels have resulted in the release of Carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. This carbon dioxide heats up the earthâs surface and the oceans
⢠Every year, human activities are causing the release of about seven billion
tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
ď Deforestation:
⢠Because of the felling old trees, or deforestation, less plants are available to
take-up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When the fallen trees and
plants slowly decompose, they release the stored carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere
5. ď Population Explosion:
⢠With the increase in population, the demand for house, transport, and fuel
has increased. These demands increase the consumption of fossil fuels that
adds to the greenhouse effect.
ď Farming:
⢠Farming provides food for the ever growing world population
⢠Fertilizers used in the farms contain nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas into
atmosphere
⢠Therefore, farming is also responsible for creating greenhouse effect
6. Global Warming and Green House Effect
ď Increase in the greenhouse gases through
burning of fossil fuels has disturbed the
ecological balance of the earth
ď Since the Industrial Revolution, the temperature
of the earth is increasing
ď Gradual increase in the earthâs average
temperature is referred to as global warming
ď Primary source of the global warming is the
increase in the greenhouse gases
7. Various human activities that are responsible
for global warming are :
ď Burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation and transportation
ď Emission of smoke and harmful gases from factories
ď Pollution caused in the upper atmosphere due to the flying of aeroplanes
ď Deforestation of forests for agricultural and industrial purposes
ď Forest fires
8. Impacts of global warming
ď Heat waves
ď Torrential rains and flooding
ď Rise In the sea level
ď Shrinking glaciers
ď Disease outbreak
ď Loss of biodiversity
9. ď Heat Waves:
⢠Drought conditions and wildlife are associated with
increased heat waves
⢠The disastrous heat waves are the cause for the loss
lives throughout the world
ď Torrential Rains and Flooding:
⢠The intensity of precipitation events has increased
the last few decades
⢠There are frequent floods and landslides
10. ď Rise in the Sea Level :
⢠Rising sea level is one of the undeniable impacts of the global warming
⢠Sea levels around the world rose by an average of 10-20 cms during the
twentieth century
⢠This would further accelerate because of the melting of ice sheets on
Greenland and Antarctica
⢠Continued rising of sea will submerge the densely populated coastal regions
of the world
ď Shrinking Glaciers:
⢠Glaciers are a source of fresh water in the world
⢠These glaciers are retreating because of the increase in temperature
⢠The shrinking of these glaciers will create a shortage of fresh water
⢠In Asia, the glaciers of the Himalaya are retreating at a record pace
11. ď Disease Outbreak:
⢠The increased temperature accelerates the growth of disease causing
organism, especially mosquitoes.
⢠The warming of earth has been associated with the spread of tropical
disease like malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever in the higher altitude
regions.
ď Loss of Biodiversity:
⢠The increase in sea surface temperature has resulted in coral bleaching
⢠The melting ice in the Arctic is endangering the survival of polar bears
12. Mitigating Global Warming
ď Global Warming may be brought under control by the following measures:
⢠Replacing coal and petroleum with the alternative source of energy
⢠Using energy efficient appliances and reducing the carbon footprint
⢠Use of recyclable and organic materials in the construction of buildings
⢠Controlling deforestation of rainforests all over the world
⢠Saving fuel consumption and the cost by use of the public transport
⢠Initiating afforestation and reforestation to plant more trees
⢠Practising reuse, reduce, and recycle