Greenhouse Effect and Pollution

The greenhouse effect occurs when carbon dioxide levels in the air build up and hold heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The Green House Effect
is the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that causes a reduction in the ozone layer and global warming.

 

Scientists measure the temperature at many different locations several times each day to determine how much the earth’s temperature is increasing.

 

We are currently in one of the warmest periods in our earth’s history. When the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere cools by only 9-10 degrees F, the earth will experiences a major ice age.

And the destruction of the ozone and global warming isn’t our only problem. 

Smog is a kind of man-made weather, a combination of smoke and fog that is darker and heavier than normal fog.  It is formed when water vapor in the air condenses on particles of dirt and grime in the air. 

“Gray” smoke is found in industrial cities where large amounts of coals and oil are burned inn factories.  “Brown” smog is caused by automotive exhaust fumes.

 

Smog is unsightly, unpleasant, and unhealthy.  It an irritate people’s eyes, throats, and lungs, and it can even damage rubber, metal, and other materials.

 

The problem of air pollution is being addressed by local, state, national, and even international programs that establish air-quality standards and require industries to develop more efficient burning of fuels and cleaner methods of production.

 

Polluting particles in the air reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground. Carbon dioxide causes a “greenhouse effect”, which holds heat in our atmosphere, possibly causing global warming.  The worldwide destruction of rain forests causes local droughts and flooding as well as changes in wind and weather throughout the world. 

 

Chemicals in the atmosphere open holes in the ozone layer and allow harmful rays to reach earth’s surface.  Scientists don’t really know what effects humans will ultimately have on the world’s weather and climate.  However, they foresee disaster if we don’t curb our thoughtless consumption of earth’s resources, such as fossil fuels, wood, and minerals.  Because weather and climate influence how we live, where we live, and perhaps more importantly, what crops we are able to grow, we must constantly consider how our actions affect our total environment.

 

   back to index

water cycle

 

 

   Questions and comments: lcelaya@amphi.com