Greenhouse Gases: Understanding Impact on Climate Change

Greenhouse gases are a group of gases in the earth’s atmosphere that trap heat that leads to climate change. When sunlight strikes the earth’s surface, some of it radiates back toward space as infrared radiation but a major portion stays in the stratosphere. Because these gases absorb infrared radiation and trap heat in the atmosphere.

The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is mainly due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Note, that understanding the types of greenhouse gases and their impact on the environment is crucial to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change.

At a low concentration, these gases are essential because they maintain the planet’s comforting average temperature of around 15°C, making life on Earth feasible. However, at higher concentrations, they create a greenhouse effect that results in global warming and climate change.

Types of greenhouse gases and their impacts on Ecology

There are several types of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. Carbon dioxide is the most prevalent greenhouse gas, accounting for about 80% of the total greenhouse effect. Methane and nitrous oxide, on the other hand, are also lethal greenhouse gases, with a warming potential higher than carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide

CO₂ levels increased noticeably in the atmosphere by an average of 2.0 ppm per year between 2006 and 2018, it has two main sources human and natural sources.

Natural Sources

Volcanic outgassing
Organic matter burning
Natural decay
Aerobic (oxygen-using) organisms’ respiration

Human Sources

Burning of fossil fuels
Creation of cement for transportation
Heating
Power generation
Forest fires
Land clearance

Methane

Although methane is the primary component of natural gas, it is responsible for about 20% of man-made climate change, CH4 is found in significantly lower quantities than CO₂, and its concentrations in the atmosphere are usually measured in parts per billion (ppb) rather than parts per million (ppm). It has two main sources

Natural Sources

Methane-oxidizing bacteria
Volcanoes
Seafloor seepage vents
Methane hydrates

Human Sources

Rice cultivation
Coal and natural gas combustion
Biomass combustion
Breakdown of organic matter in landfills

Surface-level ozone

Ozone gas can be helpful or harmful depending on where it is found in the earth’s atmosphere.

At a higher level in the atmosphere (the stratosphere) it blocks ultraviolet (UV) light that is harmful to plant and animal life from reaching the earth’s surface. At a lower level in the atmosphere (the troposphere), ozone is harmful to human health because it traps heat effectively.

Nitrous oxides

The third most damaging man-made natural gas accounts for 7% of the warming we’ve seen thus far. It is 298 times stronger than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat and it can stay in our atmosphere for 120 years

The main sources of this gas are:

Transportation
Power generation
Soil cultivation activities, particularly the use of commercial and organic fertilizers
Fossil fuel combustion
Nitric acid generation
Biomass burning

Industrial gases

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆)
Nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃)

These greenhouse gases are used in aerosol cans and refrigeration.

Water vapors

As the rate of evaporation of water increases the water gets warmer, this enhanced evaporation leads to a higher concentration of water vapor in the lower atmosphere which is capable of absorbing infrared radiation and trapping more heat.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Although CFCs are banned all over the world, still they are frequently used in underdeveloped countries.

Major consequences of the Greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect causes extreme weather events including wave cycles, droughts, and floods. It is also the reason for raising the sea level due to melting ice. Some of such major effects are:

Climate Change
Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels
Extreme Weather Events
Ocean Acidification
Disruption of Ecosystems
Threats to Biodiversity
Health Risks
Agricultural Challenges
Economic Impacts

Moreover, from a larger perspective, it is altering ecosystems and natural habitats. Eventually, It will badly affect human health through the spread of diseases and pandemics.

Related Resources

Concepts Berg

What are greenhouse gases?

greenhouse gases are gases that have the property of absorbing infrared radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface and reradiating it back to the Earth’s surface.

What causes the greenhouse effect?

the main causes of the greenhouse effect are human activity including the Burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, farming, and livestock production.

Industries and factories also play a major role in the release of greenhouse gases.

Is ozone a greenhouse gas?

ozone gas can be helpful or harmful depending on where it is found in the earth’s atmosphere.

Why is it called greenhouse gas?

Greenhouse gases allow the sun’s light to shine onto Earth’s surface, and then the gases, such as ozone, trap the heat that reflects back from the surface inside Earth’s atmosphere. The gases act like the glass walls of a greenhouse where the heat that isn’t absorbed by plants is trapped by the glass and can’t escape

What are the top 6 greenhouse gases?

the top 6 greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane gas, water vapor, ozone, industrial gases, and nitrous oxide.

What is the strongest greenhouse gas?

In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest-lasting type of greenhouse gas emitted by human activities. There are four main categories of fluorinated gases—hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃).

What is the difference between direct and indirect greenhouse gases?

Direct greenhouse gases are gases that emit radiation directly.

Indirect greenhouse gases are gases that have indirect radiative effects. This happens when they break down in the atmosphere and produce direct greenhouse gases. For example, methane CH₄ is oxidized to produce CO₂⁺ water vapor, both of which are direct greenhouse gases.

What are the major consequences of the greenhouse effect?