| If the greenhouse effect has again been | | | | itself. |
| currently in the news, it is probably because | | | | |
| it is once again being blamed for causing | | | | Global warming involves increase in the |
| global warming. Stronger hurricanes, periods | | | | average temperature of the earth's atmosphere |
| of extreme weather, heat waves, the frequency | | | | near its surface. While global warming is |
| of the El Nino phenomenon, these are all | | | | nothing new to our planet (it has occurred |
| attributed to global warming. But how does | | | | over long periods in the earth's |
| the greenhouse effect figure in all these? | | | | 4.5-billion-year history alternating with ice |
| | | | ages), it is only now when its drastic |
| What is the greenhouse effect? | | | | changes on a global scale has dire |
| | | | consequences not just for human kind but also |
| The greenhouse effect is the ability of our | | | | to the millions of species that depend upon |
| planet's atmosphere to trap and contain heat. | | | | the earth for sustenance. |
| This heat is sourced from the sun and is | | | | |
| reflected back towards the atmosphere. | | | | A famous example of the effect of global |
| Certain gases are responsible for this | | | | warming is the increase in sea level, brought |
| entrapment and they include carbon dioxide, | | | | about by the melting of glaciers. This is a |
| nitrous oxide, methane, fluorinated compounds | | | | problem not readily seen nor felt in |
| and water vapor. Other man-made chemicals are | | | | countries or regions that lie on higher |
| also capable of retaining heat within the | | | | ground, but for many areas, this could mean |
| atmosphere. | | | | land (and subsistence opportunities) lost to |
| | | | sea. A 0.3-meter increase in sea level for |
| In itself, the greenhouse effect is not | | | | example, can eat up about 15 meters of beach. |
| essentially evil. In fact, it is this very | | | | |
| phenomenon that has produced life on earth as | | | | As temperatures rise, countries that have |
| we know it. Think of the greenhouse effect as | | | | agricultural practices firmly dependent on |
| a natural thermal blanketing for our planet, | | | | the regularity of glacier-melting will suffer |
| maintaining a surface temperature that is | | | | greatly. For many regions in the world, the |
| just right to encourage organisms to grow and | | | | melting of snowpacks from the mountains means |
| survive. Without this blanketing, the earth's | | | | water for plant irrigation and electricity. |
| climate would be too cold - about 59F lower | | | | If the melting occurs at a bad time, the |
| than the average - for our planet to be able | | | | planting and harvesting of crops will be |
| to sustain life successfully. | | | | significantly disrupted, causing problems in |
| | | | the economy on a local and national level. |
| How does the greenhouse effect contribute to | | | | |
| global warming? | | | | With global warming, abrupt weather changes |
| | | | may also be experienced, such as heat waves |
| For more than 4 billion years, the greenhouse | | | | that last longer and occur with more |
| effect has kept our planet's temperature at a | | | | frequency, stronger storms and hurricanes and |
| friendly level. Gases found in the atmosphere | | | | even changes in the behavior of the winds. |
| act to trap heat and keep our planet | | | | Warmer climate will also contribute to the |
| insulated, able to sustain itself. Problems | | | | displacement of plants and animals, as those |
| only began to arise when scientists noticed | | | | who depend upon lower temperature regions to |
| that certain practices and human activities | | | | survive will need to move to higher |
| contribute to the modification of this | | | | elevations and latitudes. For plants and |
| process. | | | | animals who cannot adapt, it could mean |
| | | | extinction. |
| When the Industrial Revolution began, we also | | | | |
| devised many ways of using fossil fuel for | | | | Healthwise, diseases that right now are |
| oil, coal and gas. The only way to utilize | | | | currently limited by the location and living |
| these fuels was by burning. As | | | | habits of their carriers have the possibility |
| industrialization continued to expand, so did | | | | of invading areas that didn't have a problem |
| the practice of fossil fuel burning, thereby | | | | with them before. An example of this is |
| releasing gases into the atmosphere. The only | | | | malaria, along with other diseases caused by |
| problem was that these gases had nowhere else | | | | mosquitoes. |
| to go and have continued to build up over the | | | | |
| years. | | | | Mosquitoes thrive in tropical settings and as |
| | | | more and more regions become warmer, |
| By building up, they cause the atmosphere to | | | | mosquitoes will expand their range. They will |
| become more efficient in trapping heat, | | | | now be able to go to areas that they usually |
| causing climates to turn warmer. This | | | | do not inhabit because of the temperature. |
| unnatural or man-made result is referred to | | | | This exposes the formerly unexposed |
| as global warming. | | | | population to the health risks caused by |
| | | | mosquito-borne diseases that also include |
| How global warming affects us | | | | dengue and elephantiasis. |
| | | | |
| We have been experiencing the effects of | | | | Facing global warming |
| global warming for the past years and most of | | | | |
| these are felt through changes in the | | | | The balance of life and competition among |
| climate. However, it's important to note that | | | | species may also be disrupted, in more ways |
| climate change is brought about by other | | | | than are currently foreseen. In fact, with |
| factors and not just as an indirect result of | | | | global warming, certain lifestyles and animal |
| the greenhouse effect. Some of these factors | | | | behavior that we have enjoyed so far may also |
| include changes in the circulation of the | | | | disappear, unless we do something to try to |
| oceans, changes in our planet's orbit and | | | | correct and arrest the problem. |
| even changes in the intensity of the sun | | | | |