Alexa+Cheney

The Greenhouse Effect The heating of the earth’s surface and atmosphere is achieved through a natural process called the [|Greenhouse Effect]. The earth is surrounded by the [|atmosphere] which is made of nitrogen, hydrogen and various [|Greenhouse Gases] such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor. The Greenhouse effect works in the same way that a glass greenhouse does. The atmosphere forms a greenhouse-like cover around the earth; it traps heat energy from the sun to keep the earth warm. The greenhouse effect keeps the earth’s temperature at approximately 15 degrees Celsius. Without the greenhouse effect, the average temperature of the earth would be -18 degrees Celsius and life on earth would not exist due to the cold temperatures. Structure of a METHANE molecule: Structure of a WATER molecule: Structure of a CARBON DIOXIDE molecule:

The sun gives the earth energy through [|electromagnetic radiation]. Waves of this solar energy travel from the sun, through the atmosphere to the earth’s surface. The solar energy is absorbed by the earth’s surface and is re-emitted as [|infrared radiation] back into the atmosphere (some goes back into space as well). Some of the radiation that is released by the earth is absorbed by the atmosphere and then transferred back to the earth’s surface in the form of heat.  [|http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/education/class/yuri/srb.gif][] The atmosphere allows sunlight in to reach the earth’s surface, but prevents most of the heat that has resulted from the sunlight to escape. Carbon dioxide and methane trap the heat and as the amounts of carbon dioxide and methane increase in the atmosphere, the amount of heat that can be stored by these gases will also increase. This is a part of [|global warming]; the gases can hold more heat around the earth, so the earth will become warmer. In particular, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rapidly increasing because of industrialization (burning of fuels), deforestation and decomposition (producing methane).

Some CO2 is absorbed by the [|photosynthesis] of plants. CO2 is absorbed by the plant and through a reaction it produces glucose (sugar) for the plant. This reaction is:

6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Light Energy  à C6H12O6 (Glucose) + 6 O2   However, CO2 is also released through [|respiration]. It is the reverse reaction of photosynthesis.

C6H12O6 + 6 O2  à 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy

Some measures have been made throughout the world to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in hopes of reducing the amount of global warming that takes place. The [|Kyoto Protocol] is a legal agreement between industrialized countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The goal of the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce overall emissions from greenhouse gases. The protocol would like to achieve a 29% reduction in emissions. The United States is responsible for 7% of the 29% total. This is to be accomplished over a 4-year period between 2008 and 2012. The participating countries emissions have to be monitored and records have to be kept. The United Nations Climate Change secretarial in Bonn, Germany keeps an international transaction log and monitors the rules of the protocol.

Sources: "Chemistry of the Environment (Greenhouse Effect)." __Angel C. de Dios, Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University__. 29 Apr. 2009 . __ College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences __. 29 Apr. 2009 . "Greenhouse Effect - animated diagram." __Earthguide: Educational Resources in Earth, Marine, Environmental and Planetary Sciences__. 29 Apr. 2009 . "Kyoto Protocol." __United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change__. 29 Apr. 2009 . __ KyotoProtocol - Toward Climate Stability __. 29 Apr. 2009 . "What is the greenhouse effect?" __Weather Questions and Answers__. 29 Apr. 2009 . [|http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=greenhouse%20effect&st=cse#]