THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND THE GLOBAL WARMING

“IT IS VERY IMPORTANTTO MAKE SURE THAT THE EARTH'S TEMPERATURE REMAINS CONSTANT, THE BALANCE OF GREENHOUSE GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE MUST NOT BE UPSET”.

TheGREENHOUSE GASESare very important and are mainly:
 watervapour: occurs naturally in the atmosphere.
 carbon dioxide:produced naturally when people and animals breathe. Plants and trees absorb carbon dioxide to live. Volcanoes also produce this gas. Humans are pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere much faster than plants and oceans can absorb it.
 methane: comes from cattle as they digest their food. The gas also comes from fields where rice is grown in paddy fields.
 nitrous oxide: when plants die and rot, nitrous oxide is produced.
 ozone: occurs naturally in the atmosphere.

These greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth's atmosphere, and life is possible.

Industrialization, deforestation, and pollution have increased atmospheric concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide (greenhouse gases).

And “if the balance of greenhouse gases is upset”, the temperature rises (because of thegreenhouse effect) and the climate changes (because of the global warming).

Thegreenhouse effect:This is like when heat is trapped in a car. The heat and light from the sun can get into the car through the windows, but it can’t get back out. In the earth’s atmosphere the sun's heat and light is also trapped, and it can’t get back either…

Global warming:As a result of the greenhouse effect, the temperature rises and the Earth gets warmer. If the earth heats up (the temperature rises), global warming happens, the climate changes and the effects are very dangerous.

EFFECTS OF THE GLOBAL WARMING

The Weather

Summers will get hotter, and winters too. There may be many storms, floods and drought.

Sea Levels

Ice melting in the Antarctic and Greenland will flow into the sea. Sea levels may rise, perhaps by as much as 20 to 40 cm. Millions of people and areas of land will be at danger from flooding.

Farming

Some crops, such as wheat and rice grow better in higher temperatures, but other plants, such as maize and sugarcane do not. Some countries won’t have enough food.

Water

There won’t be enough water for the people.Changes in the weather will bring more rain in some countries, but others will have less rain.

Plants & Animals

Polar bears and seals, for example, will have to find new land for hunting and living, if the ice in the Arctic melts. Many animals and plants could die.

People

The changes in climate will affect everyone, but some populations will be at greater risk. For example, countries that have a large population, such as Egypt and China.

THE GLOBAL WARMING IS NOT NATURAL. PEOPLE ARE CAUSING IT.

“BUT WE CAN DO MANY THINGS TO SAVE OUR PLANET”, FOR EXAMPLE:

REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

REDUCE→ the amount of waste at home, at school, electricity usage…

REUSE→ everyday items (clothes, tyres, used wood…)

RECYCLE→ different materials (batteries, mobile phones, bottles…)