All about Greenhouse gases and Effect

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect refers to the rise in the global average temperature of the earth.

The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap the Sun’s heat. This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is one of the things that makes Earth a comfortable place to live. The process of global warming follows the given steps:

• Step 1: Solar radiation reaches the Earth’s atmosphere – some of this is reflected back into space(shortwave radiations).
• Step 2: The rest of the sun’s energy is absorbed by the land and the oceans, heating the Earth.
• Step 3: Heat radiates from Earth towards space (longwave radiation).
• Step 4: Some of this heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth warm enough to sustain life.
• Step 5: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture, and land clearing are increasing the number of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
• Step 6: This is trapping extra heat and causing the Earth’s temperature to rise.

Figure: GHG emission share

Greenhouse Gases:

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases.

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂): Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees and other biological materials, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement). Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere (or “sequestered”) when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle.

Figure: GWP of GHGs

• Methane (CH₄): Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
• Nitrous oxide (N₂O): Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste, as well as during treatment of wastewater.
• Fluorinated gases: Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as substitutes for stratosphericozone-depleting substances (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and halons). These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming Potential gases (“High GWP gases”).
• GHGs under Kyoto Protocol:
  • Carbon mono-oxide
  • nitrous oxide
  • methane
  • Sulphur hexafluoride
  • Hydrofluorocarbons
  • Perfluorocarbons

Kyoto Protocol(KP)

In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol (3^rd COP) was concluded and established legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

• The KP was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997. The KP came into force in 2005.
• There are currently 192 Parties.
• USA never ratified Kyoto Protocol.
• Canada withdrew in 2012.
• India ratified Kyoto Protocol in 2002.
• Objective of KP: Fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to “a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”
•  Kyoto protocol aimed to cut emissions of greenhouse gases across the developed world by about 5 per cent by 2012 compared with 1990 levels.
• The Protocol is based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. CBDR puts the obligation to reduce current emissions on developed countries on the basis that they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• KP is the only global treaty with binding limits on GHG emissions.