The Greenhouse Effect1. Energy(radiation)fromthesunpasses

throughtheatmospherewheremostofitisabsorbedbytheEarth.

2. Someinfraredradiation(heat)isreflectedbackintospace.

3. Greenhousegasesactlikeablanket,trappingsomeofthisinfraredradiationandwarmingtheatmospherewhichinturnwarmsEarth’ssurface.Thisprocessiscalledthegreenhouseeffect.Withoutgreenhousegases,theaveragetemperatureonEarthwouldbe60ºFcoolerandlifeonEarthwouldlookverydifferentthanitdoestoday.

4. Increasedamountsofgreenhousegases,producedthroughhumanactivities,acttostrengthenthenaturalgreenhousegaseffect.

5. Theenhancedgreenhouseeffectleadstoincreasedaverageglobalsurfacetemperaturesandclimatechanges.

Types of greenhouse gasesGreenhousegasesaregasesthattrapheatinEarth’satmosphere.Thesegasescanbenaturallyoccurringorhuman-produced.

Major greenhouse gases:Carbondioxide(CO2)Methane(CH4)Watervapor(H20)

Other greenhouse gases:Nitrousoxide(N2O)Hydrofluorocarbons(HFCs)Perfluorocarbons(PFCs)Sulfurhexafluoride(SF6)

Sources of greenhouse gasesActivitiesresultinginanthropogenic(human-

produced)greenhousegasemissionsinclude:

Carbon dioxide (CO2) • Burningoffossilfuelsincludingcoal,oiland

gasinpowerplants,automobilesandindustry• Deforestation

Methane (CH4) • Landfills• Agriculture• Coalmines• Oilandnaturalgasoperations

Nitrous oxide (N2O) • Useofnitrogenfertilizers• Burningoffossilfuels• Someindustrialandwaste

managementprocesses

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6):• Asbyproductsofindustry• Throughleakage

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