The greenhouse gases

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Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that produce the greenhouse effect.

          

    Greenhouse gases are those gases in the atmosphere that have an influence on the earth's energy balance. They cause the so-called greenhouse effect. The best-known greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane, and nitrous oxide, can be found naturally in low concentrations in the atmosphere. However, the proportion has increased significantly since the beginning of the last century due to various man-made sources. In addition to these trace gases, which can only be found in very low concentrations in the atmosphere, water vapor is probably the most important greenhouse gas. However, it only plays a major role in relation to the natural greenhouse effect, since the absorption capacity of water vapor in the air is directly related to temperature. Water vapor, therefore, has little influence on man-made climate change.

    Some greenhouse gases occur naturally and enter the atmosphere as a result of both natural processes (such as decomposition of organic matter) and human activity (such as burning fossil fuels and agriculture). Greenhouse gases that occur both naturally and from human activities include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ozone (O3). Other greenhouse gases have essentially no natural sources, but are side products of industrial processes or manufactured for human purposes such as cleaning agents, refrigerants, and electrical insulators. These include the fluorinated gases: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

    The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. When the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and some artificial chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth. This process maintains the Earth’s temperature at around 33 degrees Celsius warmer than it would otherwise be, allowing life on Earth to exist.

    Changes in the greenhouse gas concentrations and other drivers alter the global climate and bring about myriad human health consequences. Environmental consequences of climate change, such as extreme heat waves, rising sea-levels, changes in precipitation resulting in flooding and droughts, intense hurricanes, and degraded air quality, affect directly and indirectly the physical, social, and psychological health of humans.  For instance, changes in precipitation are creating changes in the availability and quantity of water, as well as resulting in extreme weather events such as intense hurricanes and flooding.  Climate change can be a driver of disease migration, as well as exacerbate health effects resulting from the release of toxic air pollutants in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with asthma or cardiovascular disease.

    There are some things we can do in our life to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases it the atmosphere.   

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Reduce, recycle and reuse

When people recycle close to half of their household waste, they can save around 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.                                                                           

 

Drive smart and less

If people are to drive less, it only means fewer carbon dioxide emissions because people will save on gasoline. Take care of your car

It involves keeping the tires of a vehicle properly inflated so that it reduces gas mileage for over 3%, and ensuring that your car is properly maintained can increase it by 4%.   

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Plant a tree

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and, in turn, give off oxygen. One tree absorbs around one ton of carbon dioxide in the whole of its lifetime.                      

 

Buy green electricity

There is a need to adopt renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, hot rocks, and wave power. There is a possibility that coal, natural gas, and oil will be depleted from the earth’s surface, and as such, adopting safe and renewable sources of energy is imperative.                                          

 

Often use the “off” switch

 By switching off the electricity, one reduces the amount of global warming while they only use the amount of energy that they need. Also, when you are not using your computer, television, music system, and then turn them off.

 

Choose organic foods that are in season and go local 

Transporting food from far away, whether by truck, ship, rail or plane, uses fossil fuels for fuel and also for cooling to prevent foods from spoiling in transit.