Greenhouse effect

What is Greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is a process by which radiative energy leaving a planetary surface is
absorbed by some atmospheric gases, called greenhouse gases. They transfer this energy to other
components of the atmosphere, and it is re-radiated in all directions, including back down
towards the surface. This transfers energy to the surface and lower atmosphere, so the
temperature there is higher than it would be if direct heating by solar radiation were the only
warming mechanism [1][2].
This mechanism is fundamentally different from that of an actual greenhouse, which works by
isolating warm air inside the structure so that heat is not lost by convection.
The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824, first reliably experimented on
by John Tyndall in 1858, and first reported quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896.[3]
Examples of Greenhouse Effect
a. Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide
The burning of fossil fuels since the beginning of the Industrial revolution has substantially
increased the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
b. Global Warming
Global warming, a recent warming of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere, is believed to be
the result of a strengthening of the greenhouse effect mostly due to human-produced increases in
atmospheric greenhouse gases.
The following is a list of 10 steps YOU can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Buying products with minimal packaging will help to reduce waste. By recycling half of your
household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning

Adding insulation to your walls and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and
windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy
you need to heat and cool your home. Turn down the heat while youre sleeping at night or away
during the day, and keep temperatures moderate at all times. Install a programmable thermostat
because setting it just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer could save about 2,000
pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

Replace Your Light Bulbs

Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs.
Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of
the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and
give off 70 percent less heat. If every Canadian family replaced one regular light bulb with a
CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million
cars off the road.

Drive Less and Drive Smart

Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great
forms of exercise. Explore the York Region Transit system and check out options for carpooling
to work or school.
When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires
properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you
save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the
atmosphere.

Use the "Off" Switch

Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and
using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television, stereo and
computer when you're not using them. Its also a good idea to turn off the water when youre not
using it. While brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog or washing your car, turn off the water
until you actually need it for rinsing.

Plant a Tree

If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off
oxygen. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.
Global warming
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earth's near-surface air and oceans
since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. Most of the observed temperature
increase since the middle of the 20th century was caused by increasing concentrations of
greenhouse gases, which results from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and
deforestation.[3] Global dimming, a result of increasing concentrations of atmospheric aerosols
that block sunlight from reaching the surface, has partially countered the effects of greenhouse
gas induced warming.
Causes of Global Warming

Global Warming is increasing the earths average temperature. The Green house gases are the
main culprits of the global warming. The green house gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrous oxide are playing hazards in the present times. These green house gases trap heat in
earths atmosphere and thus result in increasing the temperature of earth. The excessive emission
of these gases is the major cause of global warming.
The major source of carbon dioxide is the power plants. These power plants emit large
amounts of carbon dioxide produced from burning of fossil fuels for the purpose of electricity
generation. Coal is the major fuel that is burnt in these power plants.
Buildings, both commercial and residential represent a larger source of global warming
pollution than cars and trucks. Building of these structures require a lot of fuel to be burnt
which emits a large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Another major cause of global warming is deforestation. Deforestation is to be blamed for
25% of all carbon dioxide release entering the atmosphere, by the cutting and burning of about
34 million acres of trees each year.
Effects of global warming
The effects, or impacts, of climate change may be physical, ecological, social or economic.
Evidence of observed climate change includes the instrumental temperature record, rising sea
levels, and decreased snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere.[3] It is predicted that future
climate changes will include further global warming (i.e., an upward trend in global mean
temperature), sea level rise, and a probable increase in the frequency of some extreme weather
events.
Physical impacts
Effects on weather
Increasing temperature is likely to lead to increasing precipitation [12][13] but the effects on
storms are less clear. Extratropical storms partly depend on the temperature gradient, which is
predicted to weaken in the northern hemisphere as the polar region warms more than the rest of
the hemisphere.[14]
Extreme weather

Increased areas will be affected by drought

There will be increased intense tropical cyclone activity

There will be increased incidences of extreme high sea level (excluding tsunamis)

Increased freshwater flow:Research based on satellite observations, published in October,

2010, shows an increase in the flow of freshwater into the world's oceans, partly from melting
ice and partly from increased precipitation driven by an increase in global ocean evaporation.
The increase in global freshwater flow, based on data from 1994 to 2006, was about 18%. Much
of the increase is in areas which already experience high rainfall. One effect, as perhaps
experienced in the 2010 Pakistan floods, is to overwhelm flood control infrastructure.[15]
Local climate change:Regional effects of global warming vary in nature. Some are the result of
a generalised global change, such as rising temperature, resulting in local effects, such as melting
ice. In other cases, a change may be related to a change in a particular ocean current or weather
system. In such cases, the regional effect may be disproportionate and will not necessarily follow
the global trend.
There are three major ways in which global warming will make changes to regional climate:
melting or forming ice, changing the hydrological cycle (of evaporation and precipitation) and
changing currents in the oceans and air flows in the atmosphere. The coast can also be
considered a region, and will suffer severe impacts from sea level rise.
Biogeochemical cycles:Climate change may have an effect on the carbon cycle in an interactive
"feedback" process . A feedback exists where an initial process triggers changes in a second
process that in turn influences the initial process. A positive feedback intensifies the original
process, and a negative feedback reduces it (IPCC, 2007d:78).[11] Models suggest that the
interaction of the climate system and the carbon cycle is one where the feedback effect is
positive.
Waste management
Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal,managing and monitoring
of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the
process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics.
Waste management is a distinct practice from resource recovery which focuses on delaying the

rate of consumption of natural resources. The management of wastes treats all materials as a
single class, whether solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive substances, and tried to reduce the
harmful environmental impacts of each through different methods.
Waste management practices differ for developed and developing nations, for urban and rural
areas, and for residential and industrial producers. Management for non-hazardous waste
residential and institutional waste in metropolitan areas is usually the responsibility of local
government authorities, while management for non-hazardous commercial and industrial waste
is usually the responsibility of the generator.
Waste management concepts
There are a number of concepts about waste management which vary in their usage between
countries or regions. Some of the most general, widely used concepts include:
Waste hierarchy - The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" reduce, reuse and recycle, which
classify waste management strategies according to their desirability in terms of waste
minimization. The waste hierarchy remains the cornerstone of most waste minimization
strategies. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum practical benefits from
products and to generate the minimum amount of waste see: resource recovery.
Polluter pays principle - the Polluter Pays Principle is a principle where the polluting party pays
for the impact caused to the environment. With respect to waste management, this generally
refers to the requirement for a waste generator to pay for appropriate disposal of the waste.
Energy conservation refers to reducing energy consumption through using less of an energy
service. Energy conservation differs from efficient energy use, which refers to using less energy
for a constant service.[1] For example, driving less is an example of energy conservation. Driving
the same amount with a higher mileage vehicle is an example of energy efficiency. Energy
conservation and efficiency are both energy reduction techniques.
Reduction in the amount of energy consumed in a process or system, or by an organization or
society, through economy, elimination of waste, and rational use.

Causes of Energy : Energy should be conserved since we are consuming disproportionate

amount of energy and that day is not far when all our Non-Renewable resources will expire
forcing us to rely just on Renewable Sources. The electricity that we use comes from nuclear
power, coal power plants, Oil that we use to run our vehicles are fossil fuels that were created
million of years ago from decaying plants. When burned they emit carbon-dioxide which is
harmful to humans and the environment. - See more at:
Apart from these it also helps us to save money, mitigates the numerous adverse environmental
and social impacts associated with energy production and consumption. These include air
pollution, acid rain and global warming, oil spills and water pollution, loss of wilderness areas,
construction of new power plants, foreign energy dependence and the risk of international
conflict over energy supplies. Energy conservation extends the lifetime of equipment and
reduces the maintenance cost by operating less hours and at less than maximum capacity.
Reduce Consumption on Non-Renewable Sources
Consumption on Non-Renewable Sources must be reduced as much as possible.
1. Resource Depletion : By using these resources in excess, they are going to deplete one day
and will take another millions of years to form again.
2. Save Money : Usage of fluorescent bulbs , solar electricity may cost expensive initially but
prove to be cost-effective in the long run. Many energy efficiency and conservation measures are
better investments than the stock market or bank interest.
3. Reduce Carbon-dioxide : If Non-Renewable resources are used up to the limit they may also
help in reducing the carbon-dioxide. Pollution from nuclear and coal power plants cause diseases
like asthma, emphysema etc.
4. Cliimate Change : Due to increase int the rate of these resources it also affect the climate
greatly, Drought, Severe storms, floods, land loss, erosion of soil and heat deaths are few
examples of climate change.
5. Ozone Layer Depletion : Ozone layer in the atmosphere protect us from ultraviolet rays from
reaching the earth thus, making life on the earth possible.

Measures Of Energy Conservation

Windows:Windows may be one of the biggest contributing factors to energy loss and
uncomfortable spaces.Individuals might find some ECMs related to windows more cost effective
than others such as thermal curtains, films, or Smart windows
Lighting:One of the simplest ways consumers save a copious amount of energy is switching
incandescent light bulb to a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). A 15W CFL is capable of
providing just as much light as a 60W incandescent, while consuming just one fourth of the
amount of energy.Fluorescent bulbs,LED lighting,Linear fluorescent retrofit (T12 to T8),Sky
lights,Smart windows,Solar charged flashlight,Solar lights
Water:The average US homes wastes thousands of gallons of water a year.[7][8] There are
many water saving solutions that also save energy.
GPM or less low flow showerheads,Ultra low flush toilet,Composting toilets
Insulation:Insulation decreases thermal losses in cold climates and thermal gains in hot climates
thus reducing HVAC loads.House insulation,Thermal insulation,Cotton insulation,Natural wool
insulation,VOCs in fiberglass insulation,Cellulose insulation.
2014 Malin landslide:On 30 July 2014, a landslide occurred in the village of Malin in the
Ambegaon taluka of the Pune district in Maharashtra, India. The landslide, which hit early in the
morning while residents were asleep was believed to have been caused by a burst of heavy
rainfall, and killed at least 134 people.The landslide was first noticed by a bus driver who drove
by the area and saw that the village had been overrun with mud and earth.[5] In addition to those
dead, more than 160 people, and possibly up to 200,were believed to have been buried in the
landslide in 44 separate houses. Rains continued after the landslide making rescue efforts
difficult.
Cause:The landslide was caused by heavy rainfall that had begun the previous day, with the
village receiving 10.8 cm (4 in) of rain on 29 July and the downpour continuing throughout the
following day. The environmental destruction that resulted in the landslide is believed to have
had more than one cause. Another cause cited as contributing to the landslide was deforestation
in the area.One reason was changing agricultural practices villagers had recently shifted from

cultivation of rice and finger millet to wheat, which required levelling of steep areas, which
contributed to instability of the hills. Also the construction of the nearby Dimbhe Dam ten years
ago was considered as a possible reason. The instability of the hillsides was due to the
construction activities, which are often done without careful analysis of environmental
consequences. Stone quarrying, among other types of construction, was specifically blamed by
Sumaira Abdulali of the Awaaz Foundation, for the instability of the hillside.
Casualties:Though initial reports stated that the landslide had killed 17 people, officials
expected the death toll to exceed 150. As of 4 August 2014, the death toll had reached 134. The
bodies so far recovered were of 50 men, 64 women and 20 children.
Rescue efforts:Emergency services, including 378 personnel of the National Disaster Response
Force, were mobilised to the area, and 8 victims had been rescued from the landslide prior to the
evening of 30 July. Nevertheless, rescue efforts had been hampered by poor road conditions and
continuing rains. Authorities have also expressed pessimism about the possibility of recovering
any of the trapped people alive. As of 31 July 22 people had been rescued alive from the
landslide. On 4 August, the survivors of the landslide were ordered by the district administration
to move out of Malin. Apart from the Security Forces, members of voluntary organisations like
RSS & locals also helped in rescue operations. On August 7, rescue operations officially drew to
a close, with the final death toll estimate resting at 151.
Reactions:Office of Prime Minister of India released a statement in response to the landslide, in
which they "condoled the loss of lives in the landslide and directed all possible efforts to help the
affected people.
Chief of the Nationalist Congress Party, Sharad Pawar, dubbed the landslide "unfortunate", and
tweeted that "We have many villages located beneath hillocks. This incident has alarmed us to
rethink about such villages.