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What Do Greenhouse Gases Do?

Greenhouses are structures that use glass or plastic panels to enclose heat for the purpose of growing plants. Greenhouse gases mimic this heat-trapping effect on a global scale and are responsible for a great deal of environmental regulation and climate change. Although greenhouse gases exist naturally, many scientists theorize that human activity has dramatically increased the amount found in the atmosphere.

  1. Greenhouse Gases

    • Greenhouse gases include gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen. They are present in the atmosphere at all times and have natural cycles through water, soil and air. Without greenhouse gases, Earth would be devoid of life, as the presence of greenhouse gases regulates the temperature of the Earth and makes it habitable for organisms like humans. Greenhouse gases' essential function is to trap heat inside the atmosphere.

    Trapping Heat

    • When light enters Earth's atmosphere in the form of heat, many things reflect that heat back out into the universe. Sheets of ice, bodies of water and certain types of land all reflect heat back out into the solar system. Greenhouse gases, however, intercept a great deal of heat before it escapes and keep it cycling through the atmosphere. Gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are very effective greenhouse gases.

    Regulating Temperature

    • The repeated trapping of heat by greenhouse gases is important for regulating Earth's temperature. Too few of these gases, and Earth would be too cold for life to exist. However, as too many gases are pumped into the atmosphere by industry, agriculture and transportation vehicles, the Earth is beginning to warm, which can have equally devastating effects. The disruption of the natural cycles of greenhouse gases makes it harder for Earth's temperature to regulate.

    Pollution

    • Greenhouse gases contribute a great deal to pollution. Smog, acid rain, respiratory diseases and contaminated water supplies are all related to greenhouse gases, as these gases are produced when humans burn fossil fuels for energy. Releasing too many greenhouse gases, along with other pollutants, damages the quality of the air breathed by humans and other organisms, making organisms more likely to sicken and die. Acid rain created by the burning of fossil fuels can destroy whole forests over time.

    Considerations

    • Although greenhouse gases are necessary for life to exist, their overproduction by humans causes serious ecological damage all over the world. The heat trapped by greenhouse gases is becoming too much for proper regulation, and continued disruption of things like the nitrogen cycle makes it even harder for gases to move in and out of the atmosphere. The more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, scientists theorize, the warmer the Earth will become over time.

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