The Longevity of Earth essays

The Longevity of Earth essays Scientists and geologists often discuss issues concerning the environment on Earth. What causes the greenhouse effect and global warming are issues that geologists talk about all the time. Global warming is the term used to describe increases in the temperature of the Earth. The greenhouse effect is a natural process that helps keep the Earths temperatures at levels that can sustain life. Without certain greenhouse gases, the atmosphere cannot absorb the suns heat energy, making Earth extremely cold. Likewise, heat that is not absorbed gets trapped within the atmosphere. Some of these greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. The buildup of these gases is the main cause of global warming. Global warming has devastating effects on the Earths environment because it causes shifts in the weather, changes in water patterns, and problems for civilized people. In order to talk about global warming, geologists must first understand what causes the greenhouse effect. Many of the suns heat rays are absorbed by water vapor, which is a natural component of the Earths atmosphere. Water vapor accounts for 80 percent of natural greenhouse warming. The remaining 20 percent is due to other gases that are present in very small amounts (Murck, et al., 488). Carbon dioxide is another gas that absorbs heat energy from the sun. Whenever fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. The more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more heat that gets absorbed. This causes the atmosphere to heat up, which increases the Earths temperature, affecting both the land and the oceans. As seawater heats up, evaporation occurs, causing the cycle to start again, releasing even more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Once this cycle starts, it is extremely difficult to control. Another greenhouse gas is methane, which absorbs infrared radiation 25 times more effectively than c...