Science on TV

Greenhouse Effect

by Healthy Shana on January 31st, 2008

Is it hot in here, or is it just me?
Having lived in New York for over 15 years I’m astonished at the lack of snowfall this winter, when in contrast China and Jerusalem are currently getting pounded by horrible winter weather.

So what’s the cause of all this hoopla, leaving tens of thousands of Chinese stranded? Could it be the Greenhouse Effect? And if so, what exactly is the Greenhouse Effect? Well I’m glad you asked!

The Greenhouse Effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gasses in the atmosphere (say for example carbon dioxide and methane) trap the energy from the sun. Normally what would happen if these gases weren’t present is that heat would come down to the the Earth and then bounce back off to outer space.

Now i’m not saying that having these gases in the atmosphere are bad, because if we didn’t have them to help heat the Earth then our temperatures would be at least 60 degrees cooler. But now due to pollution and carbon emissions we have excess amounts of the gases and the Earth is having a hard time cooling itself off. Poor Baby!

The greenhouse effect is important. Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would not be warm enough for humans to live. We would all be frozen, prehistoric beings. But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the Earth warmer than usual.

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POSTED IN: Learn More About..., Nature, The Earth