How is the greenhouse effect caused?

Answer 1

By adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. A greenhouse gas is one that is transparent to visible light (most of what comes from the sun) but opaque or partly so to infrared (most of what is re-radiated from the earth.) The more greenhouse gas, the more heat is trapped on earth and does not re-radiate to space, and the warmer the earth gets.

Answer 2

Deforestation

The decrease in trees day by day is a direct cause of the accelerated greenhouse effect. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air.

Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas)

Burning releases carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas.

Answer 3

Causing the greenhouse effect to intensify:

1. Constant and increasing release into the atmosphere of carbon that has been safely stored for millions of years by burning coal, oil and natural gas for transport and electricity.
2. An enormous demand for electricity. The growing population of the earth all want cars, refrigerators, air-conditioning and a double garage.
3. A constant and growing demand for red meat. Cattle belch out methane, a toxic greenhouse gas, much more dangerous than carbon dioxide. More and more forests and bushland, which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, are being cut down so more cattle can graze.

Answer 4

The greenhouse effect can be reduced by reducing the emission of the greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide release, which is usually produced from industry and automobile usage, can be reduced by increasing automobile efficiency by carpooling, walking, cycling, or using public transportation. Also, the electric car may soon be available to the public. Meanwhile the amount of methane in the air can be reduced by preventing forest fires and the depletion of trees.

Answer 5

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere behave much like the glass panes in a greenhouse. Sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, passing through the blanket of greenhouse gases. As it reaches the Earth's surface, land, water, and biosphere absorb the sunlight's energy. Once absorbed, this energy is sent back into the atmosphere. Some of the energy passes back into space, but much of it remains trapped in the atmosphere by the greenhouse gases, causing our world to heat up.

Answer 6

You could increase the greenhouse effect by burning more fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), and by destroying more forests. We have been doing this for hundreds of years already. Why stop now?

Answer 7

• By burning more fossil fuel (coal, oil and natural gas).
• By cutting down more forests.

Answer 8

You could increase the greenhouse effect by burning more fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), and by destroying more forests. We have been doing this for hundreds of years already. Why stop now?