Essay/Term paper: Another greenhouse effect

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Medicine

The world is a greenhouse. The role of the
atmosphere is to insulate and warm the surface of
the earth. The greenhouse effect is not a new
phenomenon. Humans can help reduce the
increasing greenhouse effect.

The atmosphere insulates and warms the surface
of the earth. Incoming solar radiation passes
through the atmosphere. The surface of the earth
absorbs some of the radiation. The unabsorbed
radiation is emitted back out in the form of infrared
radiation. Gases, such as, carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor absorb
the reflected infrared radiation. These gases
re-emit infrared radiation, some of which the earth
absorbs. The greenhouse effect is the absorption
of infrared energy by the surface of the earth and
the atmosphere.

The greenhouse effect is not a new phenomenon.
The sun has always shone on the earth as far as
scientists can say. In addition, the earth has always
had an atmosphere. The atmosphere and the gases
in it have caught and trapped solar radiation since
time began. Life could not continue and would not
have started without the atmospheric gases
creating the Greenhouse effect.

Humans can help reduce the greenhouse effect. By
reducing the amount of gases released into the
atmosphere, humans can reduce the infrared
radiation, which causes the greenhouse effect.
There are several ways to control the amount of
gases released. Humans could take advantage of
the already existing bus, subway and train systems.
Carpooling is another way humans could reduce
the amount of harmful emissions gases released
into the atmosphere. Filling the gas tank and
mowing grass after the sun goes down are
additional ways to reduce the greenhouse effect.

The atmosphere is responsible for insulating the
earth. It will be too late if there are not steps taken
soon to reduce the increasing greenhouse effect. If
humans keep the harmful gases that are in the
atmosphere, it will only adding to make the
greenhouse effect worse. The greenhouse effect
will no longer be controllable if humans do not do
their part now.