Modern civilization has a strong influence on the nature.Typically, negative.Cutting down forests, draining of swamps and continuous release into the atmosphere a huge amount of harmful substances - this is not a complete list of the "virtues" of humanity.Many believe that this belongs to the same category and the greenhouse effect.Is it all really?
Background
By the way, who was the author of the greenhouse effect (that is, those who discovered this phenomenon)?Who first described this process and talked about its impact on the environment?A similar idea appeared in the distant 1827.The author of the scientific article was Joseph Fourier.In his book he described the mechanisms of climate change on our planet.
unusual for this work at the time was that the Fourier considered the temperature and climatic characteristics of the different zones of the Earth.That's what was the author of the greenhouse effect, which is the first time was able to explain the experience of Saussure.
experiment Saussure
To confirm their findings, the researchers used the experience of M. de Saussure, which uses a container, covered with soot from the inside, the neck of which is covered by glass.De Saussure to experiment, during which constantly measures the temperature inside and outside the bank.Of course, she was constantly increased in the internal volume.Fourier series for the first time been able to explain this phenomenon by the combined action of two factors: the blocking of heat and different permeability of the vessel walls to the light beams of different wavelengths.
Its mechanism is quite simple: when heated surface temperature increases, the absorbed visible light begins to radiate heat.Because the material is perfectly transmits visible light but hardly conducts heat, the latter accumulates in the internal volume of the vessel.As you can see, the mechanism of the greenhouse effect can be easily justified by everyone who has studied the standard physics course in high school.The phenomenon is simple enough, but how much misery it brings to our planet!
emergence of the term
worth knowing that Joseph Fourier - the author of the greenhouse effect in terms of its initial description in the literature.But who invented the term?Alas, the answer to this question, we have certainly not get it.In later literature phenomenon that was discovered Fourier got its present name.Today, every environmentalist knows the term "greenhouse effect".
But the most important discovery was the justification of the Fourier actual identity of the Earth's atmosphere and ordinary glass.Simply put, the atmosphere of our planet's well-permeable to visible light, but she badly passes it in the infrared.Having accumulated heat, the earth hardly gives it.That's what was the author of the greenhouse effect.But why there is this effect?
Yes, we have described a primitive mechanism of its appearance, but modern science has been able to prove that in normal conditions the infrared rays are still quite free to go beyond the planetary atmosphere.How is it that natural adjustment mechanisms "heating season" are failing?
reasons
In general, we have described them in detail at the very beginning of this article.The emergence of this phenomenon contribute to the following factors:
- Constant and excessive burning of fossil fuels.
- into the atmosphere each year comes increasing amounts of industrial gases.
- Forests are constantly being cut, their area has been reduced because of fires and soil degradation.
- Anaerobic fermentation, methane emissions from the ocean floor.
should know that the main "culprits", which trigger the mechanism of the greenhouse effect, are the five following gases:
- divalent carbon monoxide, also known as carbon dioxide.The greenhouse effect by 50% is provided at its expense.
- carbon compound of chlorine and fluorine (25%).
- Nitrogen dioxide (8%).Toxic gas, a typical waste poorly equipped chemical and metallurgical industries.
- Ground-level ozone (7%).Despite their important role in protecting the earth against excessive UV radiation can contribute to detain the heat on its surface.
- Approximately 10% of methane.
Where do these gases into the atmosphere?What is their effect?
- Carbon dioxide. It in large quantities into the atmosphere when people burn fossil fuels.Approximately one-third of its excess (above natural) level due to the fact that a person actively destroying forests.The same function is performed and constantly accelerating process of desertification of fertile lands.
This means reducing the amount of vegetation that can effectively absorb carbon dioxide, which in many respects promotes the greenhouse effect.The causes and consequences of this phenomenon are interrelated: each year the amount emitted into the atmosphere divalent carbon monoxide grows by about 0.5%, which stimulates both the further accumulation of excess heat, and the processes of degradation of vegetation on the surface of the planet.
- Chlorofluorocarbons. As we have said, these compounds provide a 25% greenhouse effect.Causes and consequences of the phenomenon studied for quite some time.In the atmosphere, they are due to industrial production, particularly outdated.Hazardous and toxic refrigerants contain these substances in huge quantities, and measures to prevent leaks clearly not give the expected result.The consequences of their appearance even worse:
- Firstly, they are extremely poisonous to humans and animals, and for the flora of the neighborhood with fluorine and chlorine compounds are not too helpful.
- Secondly, these substances can significantly accelerate the development of the greenhouse effect.
- Third, they destroy the ozone layer that protects our planet from aggressive ultraviolet radiation.
- Methane. One of the most important gases, high concentrations in the atmosphere means that the term "greenhouse effect".You should know that in just the last hundred years of its volume in the atmosphere doubled.In principle, its main mass comes from is quite natural sources:
- Rice fields in Asia.
- Livestock complexes.
- domestic waste water treatment systems of major settlements.
- When putrefaction and decomposition of organic matter in the depths of the swamps, landfills.
There is evidence that a considerable amount of methane emissions come from the depths of the oceans.Perhaps this phenomenon is explained by the vital activity of large colonies of bacteria for which methane is the main by-product of metabolism.
necessary to emphasize the "contribution" to the development of the greenhouse effect on the part of oil producing companies: a considerable amount of the gas released into the atmosphere as a by-product.In addition, the ever-expanding oil film on the surface of the oceans also contributes to the accelerated decomposition of organic matter, which is accompanied by methane emissions.
- Nitric oxide. in large quantities produced in many chemical industries.It is dangerous not only to the most active participation in the greenhouse mechanism.The fact, that when combined with atmospheric water, this material forms the nitric acid is present, even at low concentration.This is where all originate acid rain, which is extremely negative impact on human health.
theoretical scenario of global climate perturbations
So what are the global consequences of the greenhouse effect?Hard to say for sure, because scientists are still far from an unambiguous conclusion.Currently, there are several scenarios.To develop computer models take into account many different factors that can accelerate or slow down the greenhouse effect.Let's look at the catalysts of this process:
- Allocation described above due to man-made emissions of human activity.
- CO2 emissions due to the thermal decomposition of natural hydrocarbons.It is interesting to know that the crust of the planet contains carbon dioxide 50,000 times greater than in air.Of course, it is a chemically bound carbon monoxide.
- Since the main consequences of the greenhouse effect - the rise in temperature of air and water on the surface of the planet, increasing the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the seas and oceans.As a result, even more air deteriorates permeability for infrared radiation.
- The oceans contain about 140 billion tons of carbon dioxide, which is an increase in water temperature also starts rapidly released into the atmosphere, contributing to a more dynamic development of the greenhouse process.
- Fall reflectivity of the planet, leading to an accelerated accumulation of heat its atmosphere.This contributes to the melting of glaciers and desertification.
What factors slow down the greenhouse effect?
assumed that the basic warm current - the Gulf Stream - is constantly slowing down.In the long term it will cause a significant reduction in temperature, which will slow down the effect of the accumulation of greenhouse gases.In addition, for each degree the general warming of about 0.5% increases cloud cover over the entire area of the planet, which contributes to a significant reduction in the amount of heat that the Earth receives from space.
Please note: the essence of the greenhouse effect is to raise the overall temperature of the Earth's surface.Of course, nothing good about it, but it was these factors often contribute to and mitigate the effects of this phenomenon.In principle, this is why many scientists and believe that the very subject of global warming is categorized quite natural that in the history of the Earth occurred regularly.
The higher the volatility, the greater the annual rainfall.This causes both the restoration of wetlands, and the accelerated growth of the flora, which is responsible for the disposal of excess carbon dioxide in the planet's atmosphere.It is also expected that the increased rainfall in the long term will contribute to a significant expansion of the area of the shallow tropical seas.
corals that live in them, are the major utilizers of carbon dioxide.Being chemically bound, it goes to build their skeletons.Finally, if a little humanity to reduce the rate of deforestation, their area fairly quickly restored, because all the same carbon dioxide is an excellent stimulant for the distribution of plants.So what are the possible consequences of the greenhouse effect?
main scenarios for the future of our planet
In the first case, the researchers suggest that global warming will occur slowly.And this point of view has many supporters.They believe that the world's oceans, which is a giant battery power for a long time to be able to absorb the excess heat.It may take more than one millennium before the planet's climate will change really radically.
second group of scientists, on the other hand, favors a relatively quick option catastrophic changes.The problem of the greenhouse effect is currently very popular, it was discussed almost every scientific congress.Unfortunately, the evidence from this theory suffice.It is believed that in the last hundred years the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by at least 20-24%, and the amount of methane in the atmosphere and at all increased by 100%.In the most pessimistic scenario it is considered that the temperature of the planet by the end of this century may rise to a record 6,4 ° C.
Thus, in this case, the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere takes just deadly trouble to all the inhabitants of coastal areas.
sharp increase in the level of the oceans
fact that such temperature anomalies are fraught with extremely sharp and almost unpredictable rise in global sea level.So, from 1995 to 2005.the figure was 4 cm, although scientists excitedly said that it is not necessary to wait for couple of centimeters above the lift.If everything continues in the same pace, by the end of the 21st century sea level will be at least 88-100 cm more modern standards.Meanwhile, about 100 million people on our planet live right on the mark of 87-88 cm above the sea level.
decline reflects the ability of the planet's surface
When we wrote about what the greenhouse effect, the article repeatedly mentioned that it stimulates further decrease the reflectivity of the surface of the Earth, aided by deforestation and desertification.
Many scientists suggest that the ice cap at the poles may reduce the overall temperature of the planet for at least two degrees, and the ice that covers the surface polar waters, greatly hinders the process of the emission of carbon dioxide and methane.In addition, in the area of the polar ice caps do not have water vapor, which greatly stimulates the global greenhouse effect.
all so will affect the global water cycle, the frequency of tornadoes, monstrous in its destructive power of hurricanes and tornadoes will increase by several times, making it virtually impossible for people living even in those areas which are very distant from the coasts of the oceans.Unfortunately, the redistribution of water and lead to the opposite phenomenon.Today, droughts are a problem 10% of the globe, and in the future the number of such regions may grow to 35-40% immediately.This is a sad prospect for humanity.
forecast for our country in this case, which is more favorable.Climatologists believe that a large part of the territory of Russia will be quite suitable for normal farming, the climate will be much softer.Of course, most of the coastal areas (and we have many) simply drown.
The third scenario assumes that a short period of rise in temperature will change global cooling.We have already talked about the slowing of the Gulf Stream, the consequences.Imagine that it's warm for a complete stop ... Of course, before the events described in the movie "The Day After Tomorrow", it will not come, but the world will definitely be much colder.Not for long, however.
Some adhere to the theory of mathematics (simulated, of course) that the greenhouse effect on Earth will lead to the fact that 20-30 years climate in Europe would be no warmer than in our country.They also suggest that warming will continue after that, the script of which is described in the second embodiment.
Conclusion
Whatever it was, but good in the scientists' predictions are not so many.One can only hope that our planet is a more complex and sophisticated mechanism than we imagine.Perhaps such unfortunate consequences can be avoided.
