The anthropogenic greenhouse effect

However, there are threatening consequences as a result of the anthropogenic or man-made additional greenhouse effect. Various processes that are part of everyday life in the modern world have already increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the trend continues. Thus, increasing quantities of thermal energy are radiated back to earth and less and less is released into space. The effect produced by these gases is to warm up the earth's climate a process we refer to as climate change. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) expects the earth's climate to warm up by some 1.4-5.8°C by the year 2100.

Causes of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect

The reason for the so-called additional greenhouse effect is to be found in the greater concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The following table is a summary of the major greenhouse gases. Foremost among these is carbon dioxide, which accounts for approximately half the additional, man-made greenhouse effect. It accumulates in the atmosphere as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, crude oil, natural gas) and the clearing and burning of tropical forests. With the earth's growing population and burgeoning energy requirements, the question is just how much hotter will the earth become?