What is the greenhouse effect - Global Ideas
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Our climate is changing
and temperatures in general are increasing on the planet
sea levels are rising
and the ice is melting at the North and South poles
one reason for this is the greenhouse effect
But what is the greenhouse effect?
A greenhouse is normally something useful
it helps us to grow things like tomatoes out of season
that's because it's nice and warm inside a greenhouse
The sunlight enters and visible light penetrates the glass
it is partly absorbed by the plants in the soil
and partly reflected on the outside as invisible heat radiation
as a result temperatures rise inside the greenhouse
The planet Earth obtains warmth in a similar fashion
which is fortunate because otherwise we could not survive
Without the natural greenhouse effect
temperatures on our planet would be around minus 15 degrees Celsius
and not the average 15 degrees Celsius above freezing
sunlight penetrates the gas layer of the atmosphere
it's partly absorbed and partly reflected
just like in a greenhouse
small particles in the air ensure that a percentage of the reflected radiation is sent back to earth
However humans cause a lot of pollution
by producing large amounts of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide
the small particles increase in number
and the result is just like a greenhouse with the glasses too thick
so an increased amount of radiation is sent back to earth and the heat is unable to escape
causing
temperatures to rise constantly on our planet