greenhouse gases

     

Greenhouse gases are the gases present in the atmosphere which reuce the loss of heat into space and therefore contribute to global temperatures through the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases are essential to maintaining the temperature of the Earth; without them the planet would be so cold as to be uninhabitable. However, an excess of greenhouse gases can raise the temperature of a planet to lethal levels, as on Venus where the 96.5% carbon dioxide (CO2) atmosphere results in surface temperatures of about 467 °C (872 °F). Greenhouse gases are produced by many natural and industrial processes, which currently result in CO2 levels of 380 ppmv in the atmosphere. Based on ice-core samples and records (see graphs) current levels of CO2 are approximately 100 ppmv higher than during immediately pre-industrial times, when direct human influence was negligible.

Trivia about greenhouse gases

  • (Former President Clinton delivers the clue.) Launched in 2006, the Clinton Climate Initiative is working with cities to improve energy efficiency & reduce these emissions like CO2 that contribute to global warming
  • (Sarah of the Clue Crew points at a diagram of the earth's atmosphere.) Water vapor and ozone are two of these gases, collectively known as GHGs, which keep heat from escaping the atmosphere
  • Colorful term for the gases in our atmosphere that let the sun's rays through but stop the heat from escaping
  • (Jon of the Clue Crew reports from the desk of the Weather Channel in Atlanta, GA.) The Weather Channel believes that 1 degree can change the world, & that the lowering of these alliterative emissions can help

Found pages about greenhouse gases