All About the Greenhouse Effect

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

Coined in the 1800s, the term "greenhouse effect" defined the process of how the atmosphere retained the sun's energy to keep the surface temperature of earth about 60 degrees Fahrenheit higher than it would be.  Since the 1950s however, the term has been attached to the concerning environmental phenomenon known as global warming. 

Greenhouse gases bear the responsibility of keeping the earth's temperature steady.  Daily, we dump into the atmosphere more carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane than is needed.  As the sun's rays warm the earth, the earth emits infrared radiation, some of which escapes the atmosphere.  The remaining radiation reflects in all directions from greenhouse gases, slowly turning up the heat on the earth and the lower atmosphere.  What ensues is an aggregation of unpleasant consequences that multiply the problem. 

Capsized

Melting ice caps receive a lot of attention, threatening shores with raising sea-levels.  Not mentioned as much, are the insulating qualities of the ice caps.  The ice reflects more heat than it absorbs, in addition to cooling the earth directly.  Arid lands already suffering water crises will not withstand a slight increase in temperature well.  This complicates things profoundly when considering a formerly habitable land that could create scores of environmental refugees.  Coupled with a warmer climate, higher population density adds yet another dimension threatening the health and lifestyles of the world.

Mixed reactions

Unfortunately, particularly in the U.S., many intelligent citizens think that experts are deadlocked about the existence and potential dangers of global warming.  More accurately, scientists struggle to agree on predictions and prevention; few respected scientists argue in favor of ignoring the threat of global warming. 

Even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects rising global temperatures to melt polar ice, resulting in altered ocean currents, winds, and rainfall, asserting that "Deserts may expand into existing rangelands. [There is] likely to be an overall trend toward increased precipitation and evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils."  Such a source can hardly be considered the scientific fringe. 

There are, however, still plenty of naysayers, and they have expert backing.  Looking back at past scientific certainties such as the sun revolving around the earth and man's inability to travel faster than 25 mph, it may be hasty to renounce technology for the sake of the planet's future.  Essentially, the argument rests on the difficulty of gauging how pollutants affect slowly climbing temperatures.