| The Greenhouse Effect differs from actual | | | | truth to the theory, and although predictions cannot |
| greenhouses that we have in our gardens. In colder | | | | be verified until they actually take place, they do |
| climates, tropical and exotic plants are grown in a | | | | indicate the need for some decisive action now, |
| greenhouse to prevent the air from cooling down too | | | | before it is too late. |
| much, particularly at night. A greenhouse for plants | | | | What has caused the Greenhouse Effect? |
| allows the sun to warm the ground inside it, which | | | | A combination of factors, mostly man-made, has |
| then warms the air. By trapping the warm air inside, a | | | | caused our atmosphere to change. Carbon dioxide is |
| greenhouse prevents cool air from entering and | | | | produced by fossil fuel burning - which is how we |
| warm air from escaping. The Greenhouse Effect on | | | | produce electricity and what most of our |
| Earth, however, has been mistakenly described as | | | | transportation is based on. Deforestation removes |
| gases creating a similar barrier to the passage of | | | | carbon dioxide-absorbing trees, and modern farming |
| heat out of earth's atmosphere. During the day, | | | | practices and land-use changes increase the levels of |
| sunlight warms the Earth, and at night that heat is | | | | methane and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. |
| radiated into space in the form of infra-red radiation. | | | | Methane is produced in the decomposition of garbage |
| Greenhouse gases absorb this radiation, and release | | | | in landfills as well. Population growth contributes to all |
| the heat into space to cool Earth down. However, | | | | of these by increasing the amount of fossil fuels |
| unlike with a garden greenhouse, these gases also | | | | burned for energy, transportation and manufacturing, |
| radiate some of the heat back to earth. They do not | | | | as well as more farming that is needed to feed more |
| create an impermeable barrier keeping the heat | | | | and more people. |
| inside, but, more greenhouse gases means more heat | | | | To lessen the long-term effects of global warming, |
| radiated back to Earth. The greenhouse gases, in | | | | greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced. This |
| ideal quantities, keep Earth warm enough to sustain | | | | requires a reduction of our dependence on fossil |
| life. Too little of them, and we would freeze. Too | | | | fuels, protecting and expanding forests, and changing |
| many - as is happening now, and things start | | | | our lifestyles to help sustain the environment. |
| warming up. | | | | How do we do that? By using less stuff that creates |
| The predicted consequences of global warming (the | | | | greenhouse gases. The first step is to use less |
| result of the Greenhouse Effect), are dire indeed, and | | | | energy. Not only in terms of transportation and |
| include climate change, rising sea levels and the | | | | electricity usage, but also in terms of the amount of |
| possible extinction of both animals and humankind! As | | | | manufactured product that we use. Recycling is one |
| with any scientific theory, there are those who | | | | way. Using alternative sources of energy is another. |
| dispute it and believe that current evidence of climate | | | | Growing your own herbs and vegetables is a great |
| change and predictions of worse to come are nothing | | | | way to get healthy produce right outside your |
| more than a hiccup in the natural climatic cycle. | | | | kitchen door. |
| Growing evidence of melting polar caps and weather | | | | What is certain is that we can all make a small |
| changes would seem to indicate that there is some | | | | difference that will add up to a bigger difference. |