Greenhouse Effect

The climate of Earth is favorable to the development of varied forms of plant and animal life and these organisms in turn help regulate the climate through natural processes in the bio-sphere.

This delicate balance ensures that the Earth supports human life. Critical to maintaining this balance are global temperatures.

If this balance were to change the resulting climate might not be favorable for humans. The key to maintaining a stable climate is the greenhouse gases of which carbon is the most important.

The concentration of carbon in the atmosphere currently stands at 380 parts per million…higher than in any period in the last 650 000 years. Scientists predict that once we reach 450 parts per million rapid and unavoidable climate change will happen.

The Greenhouse Effect!

The manner in which the atmosphere absorbs heat is called Greenhouse Effect.

Without it the temperature of the planet would be less than -20 ° C and life as we know it today not exist. The greenhouse effect was necessary for the evolution of human life and for our continued existence. However, if the conditions in the ‘greenhouse’ alter and become unbalanced the resulting climate change can create conditions unsuitable for human life.

What are Greenhouse Gases?

There are many gases that affect the atmosphere’s capacity to absorb the heat from the sun. These are called greenhouse gases. These ratios in the atmosphere are: •

Carbon dioxide (CO

₂

) 60%

•

Methane (CH

₄

) 15%

•

Freon (CCl

₃

F

₂

)

•

Ozon (O

₃

)

•

Nitrous Oxide (N

₂

O) 12% 8% 5%

An unbalanced system.

As a result of increasing population growth and increased human atmospheric pollution since the beginning of the industrial revolution the greenhouse effect has increased resulting in a rise in global temperatures.

Over the last century global temperatures rose by about 0,7 5,5 ° ° C. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts a further warming of 1,5 C by 2100. A rise of only 2 ° C is predicted to result in irreversible climate change! Rising temperatures can be mitigated by the Earth’s natural regulatory systems, but only over millions of years.

The rapid climate change experienced today cannot be ameliorated in the short term as eco-systems will not have time to adapt.

Human activity and natural sources of Carbon Dioxide.

Even without human activity the planet would produce CO These types of CO climate change.

₂ ₂ from natural sources such as forest fires or volcanic eruptions. emissions are sometimes known as natural pollution. The Earth absorbs this natural pollution through the carbon cycle and prevents

Human activity, primarily the demand for energy, is producing more CO ₂ than the planet has the ability to cope with. In addition to increasing the amount of CO ₂ in the atmosphere human activity is reducing the ability of the earth to absorb it through the destruction of natural habitats such as rainforests, thus causing a double problem.

Source of CO

2

in Poland

CO2 Emissions by Sector, Poland

Electricity and Heat Production 57% Other Energy Industries 4% Manufacturing and Construction 17% Transportation 11% Residences 11% Other Sectors 0% sourse: EarthTrends

Carbon dioxide causes 25% of the greenhouse effect and accounts for 62% of human induced warming. Human activity produces about 8 billion tonnes of CO 2 per year!

Wykorzystano zdjęcia: • • • • • • • • • www.hansgrohe.pl

www.paroc.pl

www.izolacje.com.pl

www.ecoponidzie.wordpress.com

www.miltendrin.pl

www.goldenline.pl

www.knowledge.alliannz.com

www.kidsgen.com

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Thank you for your attention!!!!