Biographies Characteristics Analysis

The greenhouse effect is a consequence of accumulation in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect - is it worth it to be afraid of its consequences

Deforestation, the pace of industrial development lead to the accumulation of harmful gases in the layers of the atmosphere, which create a shell and prevent the release of excess heat into space.

This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.

Are you over 18 already?

Ecological catastrophe or natural process?

Many scientists consider the process of temperature rise to be a global environmental problem, which, if the anthropogenic influence on the atmosphere is not controlled, can lead to irreversible consequences. It is believed that the first who discovered the existence of the greenhouse effect and studied the principles of its operation was Joseph Fourier. In his research, the scientist considered various factors and mechanisms that affect climate formation. He studied the state of the planet's heat balance, determined the mechanisms of its influence on the average annual temperatures on the surface. It turned out that one of the main roles in this process is played by greenhouse gases. Infrared rays linger on the surface of the Earth, which is their effect on the heat balance. The causes and consequences of the greenhouse effect will be described below.

The essence and principle of the greenhouse effect

An increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to an increase in the degree of penetration of short-wave solar radiation to the surface of the planet, while a barrier is formed that prevents the release of long-wave thermal radiation of our planet into outer space. Why is this barrier dangerous? Thermal radiation, which lingers in the lower spheres of the atmosphere, leads to an increase in the ambient temperature, which negatively affects the ecological situation and leads to irreversible consequences.

The essence of the greenhouse effect can also be considered as the cause of global warming caused by a violation of the thermal balance of the planet. The mechanism of the greenhouse effect is associated with emissions of industrial gases into the atmosphere. However, deforestation, car emissions, forest fires, and the use of thermal power plants to generate energy should be added to the negative impact of industry. The impact of deforestation on global warming and the greenhouse effect is due to the fact that it is trees that actively absorb carbon dioxide and the reduction in their area leads to an increase in the concentration of harmful gases in the atmosphere.

Ozone shield status

The reduction of forest area, together with large volumes of emissions of harmful gases, leads to the problem of ozone depletion. Scientists constantly analyze the state of the ozone ball and their conclusions are disappointing. If the current levels of emissions and deforestation continue, humanity will face the fact that the ozone layer will no longer be able to adequately protect the planet from the effects of solar radiation. The danger of these processes is caused by the fact that it will lead to a significant increase in ambient temperature, desertification of territories, and an acute shortage of drinking water and food. A diagram of the state of the ozone ball, the presence and location of holes can be found on many sites.

The state of the ozone screen worries environmental scientists. Ozone is the same oxygen, but with a different triatomic model. Without oxygen, living organisms will not be able to breathe, but without the ozone ball, the planet will turn into a lifeless desert. The power of this transformation can be imagined by looking at the Moon or Mars. The depletion of the ozone shield under the influence of anthropogenic factors can lead to the appearance of ozone holes. The advantages of the ozone screen are also that it beats off harmful ultraviolet radiation. Cons - it is extremely fragile and too many factors lead to its destruction, and the restoration of characteristics is very slow.

Examples of how ozone depletion affects living organisms can be given at length. Scientists have noted that recently the number of cases of skin cancer has become more frequent. It has been established that it is ultraviolet rays that contribute to the development of this disease. The second example is the extinction of plankton in the upper layers of the ocean in a number of regions of the planet. This leads to the fact that the food chain is disrupted, after the disappearance of plankton, many species of fish and marine mammals may disappear. It is not difficult to imagine how this system works. It is important to understand what the results will be if measures are not taken to reduce the anthropogenic impact on ecosystems. Or is it all a myth? Maybe nothing threatens life on the planet? Let's figure it out.

Anthropogenic greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect occurs as a result of the impact of human activities on the surrounding ecosystems. The natural temperature balance on the planet is disturbed, more heat is retained under the influence of a shell of greenhouse gases, which leads to an increase in temperature on the surface of the Earth and ocean waters. The main reason leading to the emergence of the greenhouse effect is the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere as a result of the work of industrial enterprises, vehicle emissions, fires and other harmful factors. In addition to disturbing the thermal balance of the planet, global warming, this causes pollution of the air we breathe and the water we drink. As a consequence, we are waiting for disease and a general reduction in life expectancy.

Consider which gases cause the greenhouse effect:

  • carbon dioxide;
  • water vapor;
  • ozone;
  • methane.

It is carbon dioxide and water vapor that are considered to be the most dangerous substances that lead to the greenhouse effect. The content of methane, ozone and freon in the atmosphere also affect the climate balance, which is due to their chemical composition, but their influence at the moment is not so serious. The gases that cause ozone holes, among other things, cause health problems. They contain substances that cause allergic reactions and respiratory diseases.

Sources of harmful gases are, first of all, industrial and automobile emissions. However, many scientists are inclined to believe that the greenhouse effect is also associated with the activity of volcanoes. Gases create a specific shell, which is why a cloud of steam and ash is formed, which, depending on the direction of the wind, can pollute large areas.

How to deal with the greenhouse effect?

According to ecologists and other scientists who deal with issues related to the conservation of biodiversity, climate change, reducing human impact on the environment, it will not be possible to completely prevent the implementation of negative scenarios for the development of mankind, but it is possible to reduce the number of irreversible consequences of industry and man on ecosystems. For this reason, many countries introduce fees for the emission of harmful gases, introduce environmental standards into production, and develop options for how to reduce the destructive impact of humans on nature. However, the global problem lies in the different levels of development of countries, in their attitude to social and environmental responsibility.

Ways to solve the problem of accumulation of harmful substances in the atmosphere:

  • cessation of deforestation, especially in equatorial and tropical latitudes;
  • transition to electric vehicles. They are more environmentally friendly than conventional machines and do not pollute the environment;
  • development of alternative energy. The transition from thermal power plants to solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants will not only reduce the amount of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, but also reduce the use of non-renewable natural resources;
  • introduction of energy-saving technologies;
  • development of new low-carbon technologies;
  • fighting forest fires, preventing their occurrence, establishing tough measures for violators;
  • tightening of environmental legislation.

It is worth noting that it is impossible to compensate for the damage that humanity has already caused to the environment and fully restore ecosystems. For this reason, one should think about the active implementation of actions aimed at reducing the consequences of anthropogenic impact. All decisions must be comprehensive and global. At this point in time, this is hindered by an imbalance in the level of development, life and education of rich and poor countries.

The problem of the greenhouse effect is especially relevant in our century, when we destroy forests to build another industrial plant, and many of us cannot imagine life without a car. We, like ostriches, hide our heads in the sand, not noticing the harm from our activities. Meanwhile, the greenhouse effect is intensifying and leading to global catastrophes.

The phenomenon of the greenhouse effect has existed since the appearance of the atmosphere, although it was not so noticeable. Nevertheless, its study began long before the active use of cars and.

Brief definition

The greenhouse effect is an increase in the temperature of the lower layers of the planet's atmosphere due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases. Its mechanism is as follows: the sun's rays penetrate the atmosphere, heat the surface of the planet.

The thermal radiation that comes from the surface should return to space, but the lower atmosphere is too dense for them to penetrate. The reason for this is greenhouse gases. Heat rays linger in the atmosphere, increasing its temperature.

History of greenhouse effect research

For the first time they started talking about the phenomenon in 1827. Then Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier's article "Note on the Temperatures of the Globe and Other Planets" appeared, where he detailed his ideas about the mechanism of the greenhouse effect and the reasons for its appearance on Earth. In his research, Fourier relied not only on his own experiments, but also on the judgments of M. De Saussure. The latter conducted experiments with a glass vessel blackened from the inside, closed and placed under sunlight. The temperature inside the vessel was much higher than outside. This is due to such a factor: thermal radiation cannot pass through darkened glass, which means it remains inside the container. At the same time, sunlight boldly penetrates through the walls, since the outside of the vessel remains transparent.

Multiple Formulas

The total energy of solar radiation absorbed per unit time by a planet with radius R and spherical albedo A is equal to:

E = πR2 ( E_0 over R2) (1 – A),

where E_0 is the solar constant and r is the distance to the Sun.

In accordance with the Stefan-Boltzmann law, the equilibrium thermal radiation L of a planet with radius R, that is, the area of ​​the radiating surface 4πR2:

L=4πR2 σTE^4,

where TE is the effective temperature of the planet.

Causes

The nature of the phenomenon is explained by the different transparency of the atmosphere for radiation from space and from the surface of the planet. The atmosphere of the planet is transparent to the sun's rays, like glass, and therefore they easily pass through it. And for thermal radiation, the lower layers of the atmosphere are "impenetrable", too dense to pass through. That is why part of the thermal radiation remains in the atmosphere, gradually descending to its lowest layers. At the same time, the amount of greenhouse gases condensing the atmosphere is growing.

Back in school, we were taught that the main cause of the greenhouse effect is human activity. Evolution has led us to industry, we burn tons of coal, oil and gas, we get fuel, the consequence of this is the release of greenhouse gases and substances into the atmosphere. Among them are water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide. Why they are so named is understandable. The surface of the planet is heated by the sun's rays, but it necessarily "gives" some of the heat back. Thermal radiation that comes from the Earth's surface is called infrared.

Greenhouse gases in the lower part of the atmosphere prevent heat rays from returning to space, delaying them. As a result, the average temperature of the planet is increasing, and this leads to dangerous consequences.

Is there really nothing that can regulate the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? Of course it can. Oxygen does this job well. But here's the problem - the number of the planet's population is growing inexorably, which means that more and more oxygen is being absorbed. Our only salvation is vegetation, especially forests. They absorb excess carbon dioxide, emit much more oxygen than humans consume.

Greenhouse effect and Earth's climate

When we talk about the consequences of the greenhouse effect, we understand its impact on the Earth's climate. The first is global warming. Many equate the concepts of "greenhouse effect" and "global warming", but they are not equal, but interrelated: the first is the cause of the second.

Global warming is directly related to the oceans. Here is an example of two causal relationships.

  1. The average temperature of the planet rises, the liquid begins to evaporate. This also applies to the World Ocean: some scientists are afraid that in a couple of hundred years it will begin to “dry up”.
  2. At the same time, due to high temperatures, glaciers and sea ice will begin to actively melt in the near future. This will lead to an inevitable rise in the level of the World Ocean.

We are already seeing regular floods in coastal areas, but if the level of the World Ocean rises significantly, all the nearby land areas will be flooded, crops will die.

Impact on people's lives

Do not forget that the increase in the average temperature of the Earth will affect our lives. The consequences can be very serious. Many territories of our planet, already prone to drought, will become absolutely unviable, people will begin to migrate en masse to other regions. This will inevitably lead to socio-economic problems, to the beginning of the third and fourth world wars. Lack of food, destruction of crops - that's what awaits us in the next century.

But is it necessary to wait? Or is it still possible to change something? Can humanity reduce the harm from the greenhouse effect?

Actions that can save the Earth

To date, all the harmful factors that lead to the accumulation of greenhouse gases are known, and we know what needs to be done to stop this. Do not think that one person will not change anything. Of course, only all of humanity can achieve an effect, but who knows - maybe a hundred more people are reading a similar article at that moment?

Forest conservation

Stop deforestation. Plants are our salvation! In addition, it is necessary not only to preserve existing forests, but also to actively plant new ones.

Everyone should understand this problem.

Photosynthesis is so powerful that it can provide us with a huge amount of oxygen. It will be enough for the normal life of people and the elimination of harmful gases from the atmosphere.

Use of electric vehicles

Refusal to use cars on fuel. Every car emits a huge amount of greenhouse gases every year, so why not opt ​​for a healthy environment? Scientists are already offering us electric vehicles – environmentally friendly cars that do not use fuel. Minus the "fuel" car - another step towards the elimination of greenhouse gases. All over the world they are trying to accelerate this transition, but so far the current developments of such machines are far from perfect. Even in Japan, where there is the greatest use of such cars, they are not ready to completely switch to their use.

Alternative to hydrocarbon fuel

The invention of alternative energy. Humanity does not stand still, so why are we "stuck" on the use of coal, oil and gas? The burning of these natural components leads to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, so it's time to switch to an environmentally friendly form of energy.

We cannot completely abandon everything that emits harmful gases. But we can contribute to an increase in oxygen in the atmosphere. Not only a real man must plant a tree - every person must do this!

What is the most important thing in solving any problem? Don't close your eyes to her. We may not notice the harm from the greenhouse effect, but future generations will definitely notice. We can stop burning coal and oil, preserve the natural vegetation of the planet, abandon the conventional car in favor of an environmentally friendly one - and all for what? In order for our Earth to exist after us.

The greenhouse effect is an increase in the temperature of the earth's surface due to the heating of the lower atmosphere by the accumulation of greenhouse gases. As a result, the air temperature is higher than it should be, and this leads to such irreversible consequences as climate change and. A few centuries ago, this existed, but was not so obvious. With the development of technology, the number of sources that provide the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere is increasing every year.

Causes of the greenhouse effect

You can not avoid talking about the environment, its pollution, the dangers of the greenhouse effect. To understand the mechanism of this phenomenon, it is necessary to determine its causes, discuss the consequences and decide how to deal with this environmental problem before it is too late. The causes of the greenhouse effect are as follows:

  • the use of combustible minerals in industry - coal, oil, natural gas, the combustion of which releases a huge amount of carbon dioxide and other harmful compounds into the atmosphere;
  • transport - cars and trucks emit exhaust gases, which also pollute the air and increase the greenhouse effect;
  • , which absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, and with the destruction of every tree on the planet, the amount of CO2 in the air increases;
  • - another source of destruction of plants on the planet;
  • an increase in population affects the increase in demand for food, clothing, housing, and to ensure this, industrial production is growing, which is increasingly polluting the air with greenhouse gases;
  • agrochemicals and fertilizers contain varying amounts of compounds that release nitrogen, one of the greenhouse gases, as a result of evaporation;
  • the decomposition and burning of garbage in landfills contribute to the increase in greenhouse gases.

The impact of the greenhouse effect on climate

Considering the results of the greenhouse effect, it can be determined that the main one is climate change. Since the air temperature rises every year, the waters of the seas and oceans evaporate more intensively. Some scientists predict that in 200 years such a phenomenon as the "drying" of the oceans, namely a significant decrease in water levels, will become noticeable. This is one side of the problem. The other is that the increase in temperature leads to the melting of glaciers, which contributes to the rise in the water level of the World Ocean, and leads to the flooding of the coasts of continents and islands. The increase in the number of floods and flooding of coastal areas indicates that the level of ocean waters is increasing every year.

An increase in air temperature leads to the fact that areas that are little moistened by precipitation become arid and unsuitable for life. Here, crops are dying, which leads to a food crisis for the population of the area. Also, there is no food for animals, because plants die out due to lack of water.

Many people have become accustomed to weather and climate conditions throughout their lives. As the air temperature rises due to the greenhouse effect, global warming sets in on the planet. Humans can't stand high temperatures. For example, if earlier the average summer temperature was +22-+27, then an increase to +35-+38 leads to sun and heat stroke, dehydration and problems with the cardiovascular system, there is a high risk of stroke. Specialists in abnormal heat give people the following recommendations:

  • — reduce the number of movements on the street;
  • - reduce physical activity;
  • - avoid direct sunlight;
  • - increase the consumption of plain purified water up to 2-3 liters per day;
  • - cover your head from the sun with a hat;
  • - If possible, spend time during the day in a cool room.

How to minimize the greenhouse effect

Knowing how greenhouse gases are created, it is necessary to eliminate their sources in order to stop global warming and other negative consequences of the greenhouse effect. Even one person can change something, and if relatives, friends, acquaintances join him, they will set an example for other people. This is already a much larger number of conscious inhabitants of the planet who will direct their actions to preserve the environment.

First of all, we need to stop deforestation, plant new trees and shrubs, as they absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Using electric vehicles will reduce the amount of exhaust gases. In addition, you can change from cars to bicycles, which is more convenient, cheaper and safer for the environment. Alternative fuels are also being developed, which, unfortunately, is slowly being introduced into our daily lives.

An entertaining video about the greenhouse effect

The most important solution to the problem of the greenhouse effect is to bring it to the attention of the world public, and also to do everything in our power to reduce the amount of accumulation of greenhouse gases. If you plant a few trees, you will already be a huge help to our planet.

The impact of the greenhouse effect on human health

The consequences of the greenhouse effect primarily affect the climate and the environment, but its impact on human health is no less detrimental. It's like a time bomb: after many years we can see the consequences, but we can't change anything.

Scientists predict that people with a low and unstable financial situation are most susceptible to diseases. If people are malnourished and do not receive some food due to lack of money, this will lead to malnutrition, hunger and the development of diseases (not just the digestive tract). Since abnormal heat sets in in summer due to the greenhouse effect, the number of people with diseases of the cardiovascular system is increasing every year. This is how people's blood pressure rises or falls, heart attacks and epileptic seizures occur, fainting and heat stroke occur.

An increase in air temperature leads to the development of the following diseases and epidemics:

These diseases spread geographically very quickly, as the high temperature of the atmosphere facilitates the movement of various infections and disease vectors. These are various animals and insects such as tsetse flies, encephalitis mites, malarial mosquitoes, birds, mice, etc. From warmer latitudes, these carriers migrate to the north, so people living there are exposed to diseases because they do not have immunity to them.

Thus, the greenhouse effect causes global warming, and this leads to many ailments and infectious diseases. As a result of epidemics, thousands of people die in different countries of the world. By fighting the problem of global warming and the greenhouse effect, we will be able to improve the environment and, as a result, the state of human health.

Philippe de Saussure once made an experiment: he exposed a glass covered with a lid to the sun, after which he measured the temperature inside the glass and outside. The temperature inside and outside was different - in a closed glass it was a little warmer. A little later, in 1827, the physicist Joseph Fourier hypothesized that the glass on the windowsill could serve as a model of our planet - the same thing happens under the layers of the atmosphere.

And he turned out to be right, now every schoolchild has heard the term "greenhouse effect" at least once, this is what is happening to the Earth now, what is happening to us now. The problem of the greenhouse effect is one of the global environmental problems that can lead to catastrophic damage to our planet, its flora and fauna. Why is the greenhouse effect dangerous? What are its causes and consequences? Are there ways to solve this problem?

Definition

Greenhouse effect - an increase in the temperature of the surface of the earth and air, entailing changes in the climate. How does this happen?

Imagine that we are in the same beaker on the windowsill in the laboratory of Philippe de Saussure. The weather is warm outside, the rays of the sun falling on the glass penetrate through the glass, heating its bottom. It, in turn, gives off the absorbed energy in the form of infrared radiation to the air inside the glass, thereby heating it. Infrared radiation cannot pass back through the walls, leaving heat inside. The temperature inside the glass rises and we become hot.

In the case of the scale of the planet Earth, everything works a little more complicated, given that instead of glass we have layers of the atmosphere and, together with the sun's rays, the greenhouse effect is created by many other factors.

Causes of the greenhouse effect

Human activity is one of the main factors in the formation of the greenhouse effect. It is noteworthy that the greenhouse effect existed several centuries before technical and industrial progress but in and of itself poses no threat. However, with the pollution of the atmosphere by factories, emissions of harmful substances, as well as the burning of coal, oil and gas, the situation worsened. Carbon dioxide and other dangerous compounds formed at the same time contribute not only to the growth of oncological diseases among the population, but also to an increase in air temperature.

Cars and trucks also contribute to the cocktail of harmful substances emitted into the air, thereby enhancing the greenhouse effect.

overpopulation makes the machine of consumption and demand work more productively: new factories, cattle breeding farms are opened, more cars are produced, increasing the pressure on the atmosphere hundreds of times. Nature itself offers us one of the solutions - endless forest spaces that can purify the air and reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, a person in large numbers cuts down forests.

In the agricultural industry, in the vast majority of cases, chemical fertilizers, contributing to the release of nitrogen - one of the greenhouse gases. There is organic farming, which you can read about here. It is absolutely harmless to the Earth's atmosphere, as it uses only natural fertilizers, but, unfortunately, the percentage of such farms is extremely small in order to “cover” non-ecological agricultural farms with their activities.

At the same time, huge landfills contribute to the increase in greenhouse gases, where garbage sometimes ignites spontaneously or rots for a very long time, releasing the same greenhouse gases.

Consequences of the greenhouse effect

An unnatural increase in temperature entails a change in the climate of the area, and, consequently, the extinction of many representatives of flora and fauna that are not adapted to this climate. One ecological problem gives rise to another - species depletion.

Also, being in the conditions of a "steam room", glaciers are colossal "deposits" of fresh water! - slowly but surely melt away. Due to this, the level of the World Ocean will rise, which means it will flood coastal areas, and the land area will decrease.

Some ecologists predict that the level of the Sea Ocean, on the contrary, will decrease, and in 200 years. It will begin to dry slowly under the influence of high temperature. Not only the air temperature will increase, but also the temperature of the water, which means that many organisms will not survive, whose life system is so finely organized that temperature drops of 1-2 degrees are detrimental to it. For example, entire coral reefs are already dying out, turning into piles of dead deposits.

The impact on human health should not be ignored. An increase in air temperature contributes to the active spread of such life-threatening viruses as Ebola, sleeping sickness, bird flu, yellow fever, tuberculosis, etc. Death from dehydration and heat stroke will increase.

Solutions

Despite the fact that the problem is global, its solution lies in a few simple steps. The difficulty is that as many people as possible should perform them.

6. To educate relatives, friends and acquaintances, to educate in children the need to take care of nature. After all, any problem can be solved by acting together.

If you do not stop its growth, the balance on Earth may be disturbed. The climate will change, famine and disease will come. Scientists are developing various measures to combat the problem, which should become global.

essence

What is the greenhouse effect? This is the name given to the increase in surface temperature of the planet due to the fact that gases in the atmosphere tend to retain heat. The earth is heated by radiation from the sun. Visible short waves from a light source freely penetrate to the surface of our planet. As it warms up, the Earth begins to radiate long heat waves. Partially, they penetrate through the layers of the atmosphere and “leave” into space. reduce bandwidth, reflect long waves. Heat remains at the surface of the Earth. The higher the concentration of gases, the higher the greenhouse effect.

The phenomenon was first described by Joseph Fourier at the beginning of the 19th century. He suggested that the processes occurring in the earth's atmosphere are similar to what exists under glass.

Greenhouse gases are steam (from water), carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide), methane, ozone. The former takes the main part in the formation of the greenhouse effect (up to 72%). The next most important is carbon dioxide (9-26%), the share of methane and ozone is 4-9 and 3-7%, respectively.

Recently, you can often hear about the greenhouse effect as a serious environmental problem. But this phenomenon also has a positive side. Due to the fact that the greenhouse effect exists, the average temperature of our planet is about 15 degrees above zero. Without it, life on Earth would not be possible. The temperature could only be minus 18.

The reason for the appearance of the effect is the active activity of many volcanoes on the planet millions of years ago. At the same time, the content of water vapor and carbon dioxide significantly increased in the atmosphere. The concentration of the latter has reached such a value that a superstrong greenhouse effect has arisen. As a result, the water of the World Ocean practically boiled, its temperature became so high.

The appearance of vegetation everywhere on the surface of the Earth caused a fairly rapid absorption of carbon dioxide. Heat buildup has been reduced. A balance has been established. The average annual temperature on the surface of the planet was at a level close to the present.

Causes

Strengthening the phenomenon contribute to:

  • The development of industry is the main reason that carbon dioxide and other gases that enhance the greenhouse effect are actively emitted and accumulated in the atmosphere. The result of human activity on Earth is an increase in the average annual temperature. For a century, it has risen by 0.74 degrees. Scientists predict that in the future this growth could be 0.2 degrees for every 10 years. That is, the intensity of warming increases.
  • - the reason for the increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. This gas is absorbed by vegetation. The massive development of new lands, coupled with deforestation, accelerates the rate of accumulation of carbon dioxide, and at the same time changes the living conditions of animals and plants, leading to the extinction of their species.
  • Combustion of fuel (solid and oil), waste leads to the release of carbon dioxide. Heating, electricity generation, transport are the main sources of this gas.
  • The growth of energy consumption is a sign and condition of technical progress. The world population is increasing by about 2% per year. Growth in energy consumption - 5%. The intensity is increasing every year, humanity needs more and more energy.
  • An increase in the number of landfills leads to an increase in the concentration of methane. Another source of gas is the activity of livestock complexes.

Threats

The consequences of the greenhouse effect can be detrimental to humans:

  • The polar ice caps are melting, causing sea levels to rise. As a result, coastal fertile lands are under water. If flooding occurs at a high rate, there will be a serious threat to agriculture. Crops are dying, the area of ​​pastures is shrinking, sources of fresh water are disappearing. First of all, the low-income strata of the population, whose lives depend on the harvest, the growth of domestic animals, will suffer.
  • Many coastal cities, including highly developed ones, may be under water in the future. For example, New York, St. Petersburg. Or entire countries. For example, Holland. Such phenomena will necessitate mass displacement of human settlements. Scientists suggest that in 15 years the ocean level may rise by 0.1-0.3 meters, and by the end of the 21st century - by 0.3-1 meter. In order for the above cities to be under water, the level must rise by about 5 meters.
  • The increase in air temperature leads to the fact that within the continents the period of snow is reduced. It begins to melt earlier, as the rainy season ends faster. As a result, the soils are overdried, unsuitable for growing crops. Lack of moisture is the cause of desertification of lands. Experts say that an increase in average temperature by 1 degree in 10 years will lead to a reduction in forest areas by 100-200 million hectares. These lands will become steppes.
  • The ocean covers 71% of our planet's surface area. As the air temperature rises, the water also heats up. Evaporation increases significantly. And this is one of the main reasons for the increase in the greenhouse effect.
  • With rising water levels in the world's oceans, temperatures threaten biodiversity, and many species of wildlife may disappear. The reason is changes in their habitat. Not every species can successfully adapt to new conditions. The consequence of the disappearance of some plants, animals, birds, and other living beings is a violation of food chains, the balance of ecosystems.
  • Rising water levels cause climate change. The boundaries of the seasons are shifting, the number and intensity of storms, hurricanes, and precipitation are increasing. Climate stability is the main condition for the existence of life on Earth. To stop the greenhouse effect means to save human civilization on the planet.
  • High air temperature can adversely affect human health. Under such conditions, cardiovascular diseases are exacerbated, respiratory organs suffer. Thermal anomalies lead to an increase in the number of injuries, some psychological disorders. An increase in temperature entails a more rapid spread of many dangerous diseases, such as malaria and encephalitis.

What to do?

Today, the problem of the greenhouse effect is a global environmental issue. Experts believe that the widespread adoption of the following measures will help solve the problem:

  • Changes in the use of energy sources. Reducing the share and quantity of fossils (carbon-containing peat, coal), oil. Switching to natural gas will significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Increasing the share of alternative sources (sun, wind, water) will reduce emissions, because these methods allow you to get energy without harm to the environment. When using them, gases are not emitted.
  • Changing energy policy. Increasing the efficiency of power plants. Reducing the energy intensity of manufactured products at enterprises.
  • Implementation of energy saving technologies. Even the usual insulation of the facades of houses, window openings, heating plants gives a significant result - fuel savings, and, therefore, less emissions. The solution of the issue at the level of enterprises, industries, states entails a global improvement in the situation. Each person can contribute to solving the problem: saving electricity, proper waste disposal, warming their own home.
  • Development of technologies aimed at obtaining products in new, environmentally friendly ways.
  • The use of secondary resources is one of the measures to reduce waste, the number and volume of landfills.
  • Restoring forests, fighting fires in them, increasing the area as a way to reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The fight against greenhouse gas emissions today is carried out at the international level. World summits dedicated to this problem are being held, documents are being created aimed at organizing a global solution to the issue. Many scientists around the world are looking for ways to reduce the greenhouse effect, maintain balance and life on Earth.